Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Army, Six Division Port Harcourt on Monday carried out a free medical outreach for hitherto flood impacted communities in Ahoada, Rivers State, as part of the civil-military relations cooperation in support of Exercise Still Waters 2022.
This is as the Nigerian Army also drilled a borehole for potable water for members of Abarikpo community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Exercise Still Waters was launched in October at Ahoada by the Chief of Army Staff, Leut. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, to curb oil theft and other criminalities in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Edo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ogun and Lagos states.
Speaking, the General Officer Commanding, Six Division, Maj Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, said the free medicals covers amongst others, diagnosis, examination, counselling and dispensing of drugs and treated eyeglasses to patients.
Oluyede represented by the Garrison Commander, Six Division, Brig. Gen. Suleiman Tilawan, assured that any medical case beyond the personnel on ground will be referred to the military hospital in Port Harcourt for treatment free of charge.
“As part of our activities towards civil-military cooperation which is being undertaken by Six Division Nigerian Army. It’s a nationwide activity that all military formations are engaing on right now.
“Nigerian Army has both war fighting capability and also nation building capabilities where we attend to the welfare needs of our communities, especially in terms of medical assistance and others like the borehole we have drilled in Abarikpo community. We bring palliative to our communitues where our operations covers and attend to their needs.
“Hundreds of community members are expected to benefit from this free medical outreach. Our medical personnel are on ground and we are going to assist as much as we can. If there is any issue that we cannot handle here we will refer them to the military hospital in Port Harcourt where they will be attended to free of charge.”
Responding, the Executive Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Mr Ben Eke, who himself benefited from the free medicals, applauded the Nigerian Army for the gesture.
“It is quite commendable and I want to say that this medical outreach is coming at the right time. You know this community is one of those that was devastated by flood; and I want to say a very big thank you to the Nigerian Army for carying out this outreach.”
For his part, the Paramount Ruler of Abarikpo community, Chief Eke Fineboy, commended the Nigerian Army and Exercise Still Waters 2022 for drilling a borehole for the community.
“We are very grateful for the project sited here today. We were not expecting it but seeing this means the Army has a good plan for this community.
“We are very grateful, this is the very first time we’re are seeing something good from the Army. We plead that more of this kind of good projects should be sited in our community.”
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