An aged woman, Mrs Margaret Okere, on Thursday regained her sight
after undergoing examination at the ongoing Nigerian Army medical
outreach at Umuokwa Community, Igboh-Etche, Etche Local Government Area
of Rivers.
after undergoing examination at the ongoing Nigerian Army medical
outreach at Umuokwa Community, Igboh-Etche, Etche Local Government Area
of Rivers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Army is
conducting educational and medical outreach programme in host
communities where the ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile 2’ is going on.
conducting educational and medical outreach programme in host
communities where the ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile 2’ is going on.
Okere told newsmen during the programme that she had not been able to see for a long time.
“I regained my sight after the doctors here examined me, gave me eye drop and eye glass.
“My grandson brought me here when he heard that there will be a
military free medical outreach. I give God the glory, as I can see very
well now.
military free medical outreach. I give God the glory, as I can see very
well now.
“God bless the Nigerian military for carrying out this exercise,” she said.
Mrs Promise Okechukwu, a native of Umuokwa, said that she and her baby were examined and given the necessary drugs.
“Since I put to bed six months ago, my baby has been vomiting but
today she has been taken care of free of charge by the army medical
team.
today she has been taken care of free of charge by the army medical
team.
“I thank god and very grateful to the army for bringing this programme to my community,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mr Samuel Nwankwo said that the army free
medical programme was the first ever carried out in the community.
medical programme was the first ever carried out in the community.
Nwankwo said that he was happy and thanked God for directing the military to come to his community.
“Today, I have gotten the opportunity for my eye to be examined and necessary eye drop given to me.
“I thank the army, they are not what people are saying they are, God bless them,” he said.
Mrs Lilian Nwala, another beneficiary, said that she was at the centre for medical examination.
“They are very friendly, as the medical personnel were attending to us one after the other.
“I’m happy for the drugs they have given me after the examination, and I pray this continue,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mr Clement Emejuru urged the community to cooperate and get themselves treated.
Emejuru disclosed that he was examined by a dentist and all the drugs he needed had been given to him.
“What the army is doing is very fantastic, they are helping us to be healthy and live longer.
“The army has never carried out shooting in Igbo-Etche before, so
this is not a programme to scare us but to keep us alive,” he said.
this is not a programme to scare us but to keep us alive,” he said.
Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), represented
by Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, Chief of Logistics (Army), said that the
outreach was a civic responsibility to create smooth relationship with
host communities.
by Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, Chief of Logistics (Army), said that the
outreach was a civic responsibility to create smooth relationship with
host communities.
Buratai said that the army had always carried out positive activities
in any community they were to ensure that the people were comfortable.
in any community they were to ensure that the people were comfortable.
“In some places that we are, if they don’t have water, we provide
boreholes for them to get water, where there are medical challenges; we
provide solution for them.
boreholes for them to get water, where there are medical challenges; we
provide solution for them.
“Places where we think the primary or secondary school is lacking
educational materials, we also provide for as part of our civic
responsibility,” he said.
educational materials, we also provide for as part of our civic
responsibility,” he said.
The COAS said that the rumoured military vaccine was a creation of
miscreants that were not comfortable with military’s resolve to fix
them.
miscreants that were not comfortable with military’s resolve to fix
them.
“The army has the responsibility of protecting the Nigerian people’s
interest, so whatever people say to tarnish the Nigerian Army, we will
not bulge by that.
interest, so whatever people say to tarnish the Nigerian Army, we will
not bulge by that.
“These are mere propaganda by miscreants and disloyal citizens who go
about tarnishing the image of the country and the army,” he added.
about tarnishing the image of the country and the army,” he added.
Dr Samuel Amaechi, the Eze Onyeishi-Agwuru of Igboh-Etche, commended
the Nigerian Army for the free medical outreach and called on his
subjects to take full advantage of the exercise.
the Nigerian Army for the free medical outreach and called on his
subjects to take full advantage of the exercise.
While urging other agencies to emulate the gesture, the traditional ruler also called for the sustenance of the programme.
NAN