By Our Reporter
No fewer than 150 indigent persons in Enugu State have benefited from the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers programme of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The Coordinator of the NYSC in the state, Mr Sam Ujogu disclosed this on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.
Ujogu said that the medical outreach was flagged off in the state on June 21 at Nkwe Community in Awgu Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the people of Ibagwa Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of the state took their turn on June 22.
He said that the exercise was executed by corps medical personnel who provided free consultation, diagnosis of illnesses, prescription and administration of drugs and general treatment.
Ujogu said that the exercise focused on such sicknesses as malaria, sugar level, high blood pressure and others.
The state coordinator said that the scheme was launched in 2014 as a platform for contributing to and promoting the well being of those in the rural areas.
“This is achieved by granting them easier access to free and quality health care,” he said.
He said that the exercise which was one of the ways to reduce the extreme effect of poverty by providing free health services to the indigent had recorded huge successes in the past.
According to him, the scheme was made possible through donations and partnership with corporate bodies, wealthy individuals and good spirited sons of the benefitting communities
Ujogu said that they had the plan of setting up mobile clinics in the communities and appealed for the support of donors towards the actualisation of the plan.
He thanked the traditional rulers in the benefitting communities for their support in mobilising their subjects to take part in the exercise.
The theme of the 2021 Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers is, ‘Health is Wealth for Advancement’.
The two-day programme held simultaneously in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.