By Leonard Okachie

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Thursday inaugurated its 2023 first-quarter Health Initiative For Rural Dwellers (HIRD) in Abia.

The State Coordinator, NYSC, Mrs Ufuoma Dick-Iruenabere, while speaking at the inauguration in Aba, urged the residents to avail themselves the opportunity and access free healthcare services provided by the scheme.

She said that the scheme was fully prepared to use skilled human resources at its disposal to improve the quality of life of the people.

Dick-Iruenabere said that HIRD had a core responsibility of mobilising corps medical personnel to provide health interventions such as diagnosis, treatment, referral and preventive mechanisms.

She thanked the state government and the sponsors of the programme for the support.

“I, therefore, appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to support this initiative of NYSC geared toward imparting positively on the health needs of our rural dwellers,” she said.

The NYSC Zonal Inspector in Aba North, Mr Chinedu Ubagu, expressed happiness over the success of the exercise, noting that the aged and the young were attended to.

Ubagu further said that the corps used the traditional ruler of the community, radio announcement and town crier to inform the people which led to the large turnout.

“Yes, we had a rally, moved round the community to sensitise the people about the benefits of the exercise and I’m glad they responded very well,” he said.

Also, the Chairman of Aba North Local Government, Mr Stanley Ogbonna, thanked NYSC for choosing the area for the exercise.

Ogbonna, represented by his Deputy, Mr Isidore Egejuru, commended the initiative, and urged NYSC to continue with the programme.

“We are happy about this and that is why we supported it with logistics and others things.

“It is our desire that this programme is holding once in a while in our community so that people will benefit and feel the impact of governance,” he said.

A beneficiary, identified simply as Mrs Nnabuife said she was grateful to NYSC and impressed with the service rendered to her.

“This programme is the first of its kind in this community and I say thank you to NYSC,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the medical outreach held at Eziama High School, Aba, Abia North, witnessed a large turnout of residents of the community.

NAN also reports that the medical outreach featured health talk, free medical consultation, laboratory test, drugs and treatment. (NAN) (www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Vivian Ihechu