Free Medical Care: NYSC Targets More Vulnerable Nigerians Through HIRD
By ZAKAA LAZARUS-Abuja.
The Director General, National Youth Services Corp (NYSC), Brigd. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, on Thursday said the scheme is targeting more vulnerable Nigerians through it’s health initiative for rural dwellers program (HIRD), for quality free health care in rural communities across the country.
The NYSC boss made this known at medical outreach carried out by scheme at Gosa -Sarkia, a suburb of FCT Abuja.
According to General Ahmed, “The HIRD is a platform which the NYSC caters for the health needs of the people in rural communities, who have little or no access to quality healthcare.
” In essence, we are deploying the resources at our disposal to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government towards achieving universal health coverage as part of its social welfare programmes.
Gen. Ahmed noted that, the corp is leverageing on the expertise of Corps Medical Personnel, such as Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, and Laboratory Scientists, that are deployed to render free and qualitative medical services to communities across the country.
“We also mobilize medical consumables, including drugs, to treat ailments, while referrals are made to relevant health facilities, when necessary.
” I am pleased to report that since the commencement of the programme, we have reached out to three million six hundred and fifteen thousand Nigerians by way of sensitization on causes and prevention of diseases; treatment of ailments; and referrals. Our target is to reach at least five hundred thousand additional beneficiaries this year.
“It is heart-warming to note that the successes recorded in the programme over the years have been partly due to the support of various stakeholders, especially those that provide resources, such as drugs and other consumables for use during outreaches of this nature.
” I, therefore, wish to use this opportunity to once again express our profound gratitude to Government Agencies, non-governmental organizations as well as public-spirited individuals that have continued to lend helping hands towards sustaining this laudable initiative.
The NYSC boss also commend the patriotic zeal of Corps members of successive batches, who he said, have been the field implementers of the HIRD in all States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Indeed, your dedication to this humanitarian endeavour is not only touching the lives of Nigerians positively, but also contributes to the visibility the NYSC as a Scheme that is responsive to national needs.
“I enjoin you to sustain the tempo of your commitment and continue to be shining examples for other youths of our great country”, he added
Earlier in her opening address, the Director, Community Development Service and Special Projects, Hajiya Zainab Isah, noted that the scheme is taking the health services to several communities through it’s state secretariats across the country.
She added that HIRD program has deployed a team of 50 medical personnel to attend to members of Gosa community.
“Highlights of activities for our free medical care outing in the next two days include sensitisation on causes and prevention of diseases, diagnosis, checkups and treatment of wide range of ailments, among others.
She however said, medical condition that require greater expertise or more sophisticated facilities will be referred to appropriate facilities.
