The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Lasisi Adegboye, has given the assurance that the Nigerian Army is committed to the health and welfare of troops.

Adegboye said this on Wednesday while inaugurating an eye theatre and optical laboratory at the 82 Division Medical Service and Hospital, Enugu.

He noted that the inauguration of the eye theatre underlines the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to ensuring that personnel and their families can access the best of medical care within Nigerian Army medical facilities.

The GOC said: “It is a common saying that health is wealth; you will agree with me that good eye sight is essential for a good healthy fulfilled life.

“The soldier is required to be able to see his enemy from afar, he who spots the enemy first has a great advantage, even in daily living poor sight makes usually routine activities very difficult.

“Unfortunately many of our personnel and their family members are suffering under the burden of poor vision due to conditions that can be corrected. Common among these are cataracts, glaucoma among others.”

According to him, the eye theatre and optical laboratory will bring quality eye care closer to the personnel and their families and it will reduce time taken for eye conditions to be treated and minimize cost.

“It is gratifying that this service is also being extended to members of the public, which will further cement our Civil-Military-Cooperation (CIMIC) activities.

“I therefore commend 82 Division Hospital for taking this bold and innovative step to establish the eye theatre and optical laboratory,” he said.

During the ceremony, the Chairperson of Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) 82 Division Chapter, Mrs. Rasheedat Adegboye, inaugurated the 82 Division Hospital Baby Crèche.

Mrs Adegboye, who is the wife of the GOC, lauded the hospital for building a well secured environment for babies to be kept and nurtured while their mothers attended to their duties and health-need of patients.

“With the crèche in place and functional, babies will have a secured environment devoid of exposure to different ailments,” she noted.

Highlights of the event were inspection of quarter guard mounted in honour of the GOC and a group photograph of the GOC with NAOWA members and officers/staff of the hospital.

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