About 500 residents of Ehor Community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State have benefitted from the Nigerian Army’s free health care service.
The 4 Brigade Commander, Benin, Brig-Gen. Dalanmi Ndahi, who flagged off the health outreach programme in Ehor, the administrative headquarters of Uhunmwode LGA, said the gesture was to further the existing civil-military relationships between both entities.
Ndahi stated that the army valued the existing cordial relationship it enjoyed with its host communities in Edo State.
He added that the free medical outreach was another way to express its appreciation by bringing free healthcare services to the doorstep of the people.
He said the army was not oblivious of the high cost of assessing health care service in the state, hence the Chief of Army Staff’s approval of the outreach to be part of the brigade’s exercise ‘Still Water 11 2022’ medical programme.
The commandant urged the people and those from the neighbouring communities to take advantage of the free health care service to seek medical examination and treatment.
Earlier, the Enogie of Umopke, His Royal Highness, Chief David Ehigiamusoe, commended the army authority for the gesture, describing the free service delivery as novel.
The royal father said the massive turnout of the people to seek treatment was a testimony to the fact that they had longed for this type of gesture being brought to their doorstep free of charge.
The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria, said “today’s event is special to us and the state government because the army is partnering with us to better the health service delivery system in the state.
Represented by Dr Stanley Ehiarimwiam, the Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Akoria described the programme as novel and laudable, coming from the military which statutory duties were to protect the nation’s territorial borders.
“We appreciate this collaboration and encourage more stakeholders to key into such goodwill as government cannot do it alone, especially in the area of health care service delivery,” he said.
Some of the patients told The Tide source that they remained grateful to the army authority for availing them the opportunity of assessing free health care service.
They said the diagnosis, treatment and the dispensed drugs to them, were something they hadn’t contemplated in their widest imagination.
Pa. Osaro Ibude, 75, said “we see this free treatment and drugs from the army as a dream come true for us.
“ We never thought the army can also provide such services to people until today because we have seen it. These are my drugs and others are being diagnosed and treated,” he said while displaying his drugs.
The Brigade had on Wednesday, also gifted three primary and secondary schools in the locality with instructional materials worth several thousands of Naira.
Ndahi, who presented the items to the different schools, said it was part of the Chief of Army Staff’s efforts to promote and sustain the existing cordial civil-military relationships in the communities.
Ndahi said the gesture was the army’s way of saying “thank you” in appreciation to the community for the warm welcome accorded its personnel who had established a camp within the community.
”This is just a token of our appreciation to the community for the space you gave to us when we established a camp for our operation water project two months ago.
”Though our presence has also ensured safety of lives and property in the community and other neighbouring communities, we appreciate the existing cordial civil-military relationships between us.
”These instructional materials are to reciprocate that gesture and our way to give back to the community to promote the academic pursuit of the pupils and students.”
Responding, the Enogie of Ehor community, Osagie Igiehon, thanked the military command for the gesture, saying the people of Ugoneki community were grateful for the water project, now providing the people with source of portable water.
The royal father said it was gratifying to know that in spite of the military statutory role of defending the territorial borders, it still found time to provide social basic amenities to its host communities.
He expressed satisfaction over the military presence within the locality, which he noted had restored confidence and safe haven for the people and travellers plying the Benin-Auchi highway.
The schools that benefited from the gesture included Ugoneki Primary school, Ogbe primary school, Ehor and Ehor Grammar school, all in Uhunmwode LGA.