Army’s Free Medical Outreach Brings Relief to Over 500 Erin-Ile Residents in Kwara
More than 500 residents of Erin-Ile and neighbouring communities in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Nigerian Army to bring basic healthcare closer to rural dwellers.
The exercise, held in Erin-Ile, offered residents a range of services, including general medical consultations, dental and eye care, laboratory investigations, counselling, medication and health education.
Representing the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Musa Awwal Etsu-Ndagi, said the outreach was part of the Army’s civil-military cooperation initiatives designed to support host communities and deepen mutual understanding between civilians and military personnel.
Etsu-Ndagi said the programme was not limited to providing medical assistance, but was also intended to demonstrate the Army’s commitment to the welfare of communities where its personnel operate.
“We are holding this medical outreach today. Medical outreach is one of those civil-military cooperation activities that we carry out in the Nigerian Army, not only to support the local communities where we operate in terms of medical care, but also to show them how much we love them,” he said.
He appreciated the people of Erin-Ile for accepting the programme and encouraged residents to take advantage of the services available during the exercise.
“I would like to thank the area community for accepting this medical outreach in good faith,” he said.
According to him, the Erin-Ile programme was the third in a series of medical outreaches being conducted under the initiative, with another exercise expected to take place as part of the programme.
The outreach also included a symbolic deworming exercise for children and the distribution of mosquito nets to selected women, reinforcing the preventive healthcare component of the programme.
Declaring the exercise open, Etsu-Ndagi urged residents to utilise the available medical services, noting that the programme was designed as a half-day intervention.
The Elerin of Erin-Ile, His Royal Majesty Oba Jimoh Adebowale Adesoye (Adetona I), commended the Nigerian Army for bringing free healthcare services to the community.
The traditional ruler described the initiative as impressive and beneficial, saying it had created an opportunity for residents to receive medical attention without travelling far from their homes.
Oba Adesoye expressed appreciation to Lieutenant General Shaibu, the officers and other personnel involved in the exercise, noting that the gesture demonstrated the Army’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians beyond its conventional security responsibilities.
He urged residents to make good use of the medical services provided and expressed optimism that the initiative would further strengthen the relationship between the military and the community.
Some beneficiaries also expressed satisfaction with the treatment and medication received during the outreach.
One of the beneficiaries, Abass Akegbeyala, said the exercise had given residents the opportunity to access medical care without worrying about the cost of treatment and drugs.
He commended the Army for selecting Erin-Ile for the intervention and described the programme as beneficial to the community.
Mrs Oladejo Omolayo also expressed appreciation for the attention she received from the medical team, saying she was properly attended to and given medication after consultation.
Another beneficiary, Ademola Omo-Aweda, praised the medical personnel for their care and professionalism, while calling for more interventions of the kind in rural communities.
The outreach, which brought together military medical personnel and residents, provided a combination of treatment and preventive healthcare services, with children, women and other members of the community among those who benefited.
