No fewer than 802 residents of Ohom Orba community, in Udeanu Local Government Area, Enugu State, have received free medication and health counseling from the Nigerian Army.

The free medical service included: free medical tests, 300 free pair of eye glasses, free malaria and HIV/AIDS tests, free insecticide treated nets, physiotherapy massage, de-worming of children, free drugs, etc.

Ohom Orba is the community where Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State hails from.

Flagging-off the exercise, Maj.-Gen. Lasisi Adegboye, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, said that the free medical outreach was part of the ongoing “Exercise Atilogwu Udo 1”.

Adegboye noted that the exercise was meant to strengthen existing civil-military relationship, adding that the humanitarian effort was ongoing in all 82 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR) within the South-East states and Cross River State.

“The exercise is meant to improve the long standing civil-military relations between the Army and its civil populace as well as promote Civil-Military-Cooperation (CIMIC).

“The exercise is also in line with the Chief of Army Staff vision to cater for the welfare of the host community and win the hearts and minds of the civil populace,” he said.

Responding, Igwe Everestus Onah, the Traditional Ruler of the community, who spoke on behalf of the residents of the community, thanked the Nigerian Army for taking the pain to reach the community notwithstanding its distance from its headquarters in Enugu.

“We are grateful for the army bringing good health, free medication and medical experts to counsel us one-on-one,” Onah said.

A beneficiary of the exercise, Miss Kenechukwu Ugwuanyi, appreciated the army and its medical team for the free malaria tests and drug given to her.

“I am also grateful for the net and de-worming medicine given to me. It is my first time of receiving a free medical care in my community,” Ugwuanyi said.

Another beneficiary, Pa Ignatius Nwodo, said that he was surprise to see the Nigerian Army providing humanitarian services in the community.

Nwodo, who got a free pair of eye glass, said that his impression of the army as a very strict force had changed, adding; “I now know that they are tender and caring as well.”

Mrs Kate Agbo, another beneficiary of the exercise, thanked the army for the loads of drugs on malaria, cough and pneumonia given to her and her two kids.

The Commander of 82 Division Medical Services, Lt. Col. Ijoma Ijomanta, noted that the common illness diagnosed included; malaria, Blood Pressure and dental problems.

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