At least 3,652 residents of Emene in Enugu East Local Government Area have benefited from a free and comprehensive medical outreach, courtesy of the Nigerian Army.
The exercise featured health counselling, lecture on how to prepare health diets from locally sourced ingredients.
There were also medical tests, dental and eye checks, free drugs, referrals and distribution of 300 pairs of free eye glasses.
It also featured the distribution of free insecticide treated nets to expectant and nursing mothers.
Others were de-worming of children, distribution of free disinfectants and multivitamin to malnourished children, amongst others.
Speaking at the launch of the outreach on Friday, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said the exercise was part of the activities meant to strengthen Civil-Military-Cooperation for the ongoing operation, code-named ‘Exercise Golden Dawn’.
Lagbaja said the operation, which is a training exercise of the army, in collaboration with sister security agencies, was meant to rid society of undesirable elements and criminals.
He said the army was also deploying its competence and skills in the medical profession to bring free and holistic healthcare even to referral level to Emene residents.
He said: “I am overwhelmed by the large turnout of the residents to access this free healthcare. “This shows acceptance and age-long cooperation of the community with the Nigerian Army.
“Exercise Golden Dawn and other exercises ongoing nationwide were designed to enable law-abiding citizens to go about their normal businesses, especially as we enter the ‘Ember’ months.
“From the benefit of hindsight, we know that during the Ember months, criminality is usually on the high side as well as other threats to security.
“As part of Exercise Golden Dawn, we have drawn up some activities to draw from the competence and skills of professionals in the military.
“So, as part of the exercise, we have the free and comprehensive medical outreach as being witnessed today (Friday) in Emene community.
“We also have educational outreaches in some schools.
“The medical outreach had also taken place in Cross River and Abia.
“It will get to all the states under the coverage of the division.”
The GOC said the various feedbacks from residents within the division also point in the direction of the successes so far recorded by Exercise Golden Dawn.
“From the reports we are getting from the communities under the division, criminality has reduced to the barest minimum,’’ he said.
Responding, the Traditional Ruler of Emene Autonomous Community, Igwe Felix Ugwu, thanked the Nigerian Army for the “great gesture” of taking over the health burden of the community and providing the people with quality healthcare free-of-charge.
“As a people, we are grateful to the Nigerian Army for remembering us and providing medicare, eye glasses and even referral services to our people at the 82 Division Hospital free-of-charge,” Ugwu said.
A beneficiary, Mr Chamberlain Izuchukwu, thanked the army for free medical tests and drugs given to him and his family.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Ngozi Chielo, thanked the army for the free eye check, medication and a pair of glasses given to her.
“I am grateful to the Nigerian Army for providing comprehensive eye care and lifting huge financial burden from me,” Chielo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commonest health issues handled during the outreach included malaria, typhoid fever and diarrhea, among others.
