Residents of Erin- Ile in Oyun local government area of Kwara State yesterday hailed the Nigerian Army for providing them with free medical services.
The Elerin of Erin-Ile, Oba Jimoh Adebowale Adesoye (Adetona I), commended the Nigerian Army for bringing free healthcare services to the community.
He described the initiative as impressive and beneficial, saying it had created an opportunity for residents to receive medical attention without travelling far from their homes.
Adesoye expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu , the officers and other personnel involved in the exercise, noting that the gesture demonstrated the Army’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians beyond its conventional security responsibilities.
One of the beneficiaries, Abass Akegbeyala, said the exercise gave the residents the opportunity to access medical care without worrying about the cost of treatment and drugs.
He commended the Army for selecting Erin-Ile for the intervention and described the programme as beneficial to the community.
Mrs Oladejo Omolayo also expressed appreciation for the attention she received from the medical team, saying she was properly attended to and given medication after consultation.
Another beneficiary, Ademola Omo-Aweda, praised the medical personnel for their care and professionalism.
LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that more than 500 residents of Erin-Ile and neighbouring communities benefited from the programme.
The exercise, held in Erin-Ile, offered residents a range of services, including general medical consultations, dental and eye care, laboratory investigations, counselling, medication and health education.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Waidi Shaibu, who was represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Maj. Gen. Musa Awwal Etsu-Ndagi, said the outreach was part of the Army’s civil-military cooperation initiatives designed to support host communities and deepen mutual understanding between civilians and military personnel.
He said the programme was not limited to providing medical assistance, but was also intended to demonstrate the Army’s commitment to the welfare of communities where its personnel operate.
“We are holding this medical outreach today. Medical outreach is one of those civil-military cooperation activities that we carry out in the Nigerian Army, not only to support the local communities where we operate in terms of medical care, but also to show them how much we love them,” he said.
