Nation
NYSC, Philanthropist Offer Free Medical Treatment In Jigawa
The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in collaboration with a philanthropist, Yushe’u Abdu has targeted 200 persons for free medical treatment at Kachi community in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa.
The State Coordinator, Hajiya Aishatu Adamu, stated this at the inauguration of the exercise on Sunday in Dutse.
Adamu said that under the arrangement the scheme provided the manpower, while the philanthropist contributed drugs to facilitate smooth conduct of the exercise.
She said the philanthropist, who is a native of the community, approached the NYSC office after the successful conduct of the medical outreach under the scheme’s Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) in the state.
The philanthropist, she said, requested that such gesture be extended to members of his community.
“The NYSC recently conducted HIRD in some selected communities in the state.
“So when Abdu heard about it, he requested that we should also do similar exercise in his community, which is Kachi in Dutse LGA.
“And he accepted to contribute drugs while the scheme will provide the manpower.
“Today, our corps members are diagnosing members of Kachi community and giving them free drugs,” she said.
Adamu said the beneficiaries were also exposed to environmental hygiene and health risks associated with poor sanitation.
According to her, the gesture is to ensure prevention of food and water contamination as well as protect the environment.
“It may interest you to know that during the nationwide medical outreach recently conducted on the platform of the NYSC’s HIRD, most of the ailments diagnosed and treated are caused by poor hygiene.
“They include chronic diarrhea; tooth decay, head/body lice, ringworms, dysentery, typhoid, scabies, trachoma, hepatitis A and malaria, among others.
“Therefore, efforts must be made to save more lives by empowering the people with adequate information on good grooming and environmental hygiene,” she said.
Adamu, therefore, commended the philanthropist for his determination towards enhancing access to quality healthcare services at the grassroots.
Also speaking, Abdu, who is also the Director, Administration and Finance (DAF), Jigawa State Directorate of Salary and Pension, thanked the NYSC for the gesture.
“Our people in rural areas need access to quality healthcare services; this informed my decision to join hands with the NYSC to ensure that people from my community also benefit from similar gesture.
“I supplied drugs for my people to benefit and the NYSC provided the manpower and other things required for the exercise,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Ward Head of Kachi, Malam Garba Idris, commended the gesture, saying it would improve the health status of the people in the area.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
