By Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja
Over two million rural dwellers across the country have benefited from the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC), Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD), the NYSC Director General, Maj. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, has revealed.
Ibrahim made the disclosure in Abuja, Monday when the Federal Capital Authority (FCT) flagged off its HIRD activities in Damaganza Hausawa rural community.
He expressed pleasure that the NYSC HIRD programme was bringing healthcare services to the rural dwellers.
The NYSC Director General said: “I am pleased to report that, so far, over two million persons have been attended to by the NYSC medical teams on the HIRD platform/in addition to the treatment of patients.
“Driven by our determination to deepen the impact of our healthcare services, management launched the NYSC-HIRD in 2014. It is a platform for contribution towards promoting the well-being of indigent persons at the grassroots by granting them easier access to free and quality healthcare.”
According to him, the programme is largely implemented through medical outreaches in communities across the country, during which corps medical volunteers carry out diagnosis; treatment, including minor medical procedures; and referrals of patients.
He added that drugs, eye glasses and other medical consumables are also given to patients free of charge.
In addition, he said, the HIRD activities are ongoing simultaneously across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, stressing that it will last for one week after which follow-ups will be carried out.
The 2021 HIRD which is a centrally coordinated medical outreach with the theme “Health is wealth for advancement,” is taking place simultaneously in all states of the federation and the federal capital territory, and will last for one week. However, each NYSC state secretariat mobilises the corps medical team teams to conduct follow up outreaches on quarterly basis with a view in to increasing access for the benefitting communities.
He used the opportunity to appeal for support from both well-spirited Nigerians and corporate bodies to achieve the scheme’s aim of expanding the programme.
The FCT NYSC Coordinator,
Suleiman Abdullahi said that their aim is to ensure all rural dwellers within the FCT get their desired healthcare services.
He also joined the NYSC director general in soliciting for support from well-meaning Nigerians.
The community leader of Damaganza Hausawa community, Bello Musa thanked the DG NYSC, the NYSC and the FCT coordinator for chosing his community for the HIRD programme and used the opportunity to seek for more government assistance in areas such as water, electricity, schools and hospitals.
