The Nigeria Army has offered free medical services to 315 persons as part of activities marking the 55th Independence Anniversary of the country.
The event which took place in Amaeze, Aguleri in Anambra State, was organised by the Onitsha Military Cantonment of the Nigeria Army to offer free treatment to those who may ordinarily not be able to afford to pay for it.
This, authorities say, is to foster a better and more harmonious relationship between the military and the civilian population.
According to Captain Saheed Oyekanmi Shittu, the Officer in charge of the Medical Reception Station of the Military Cantonment, the medical outreach programme was designed to create a form of bonding between the civilians and the military by attending to their core health needs.
He stated that the military was taking its constitutional responsibility of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria seriously, but was also seeking for better ways to get across to the populace in any tangible it could, one of which he stated was the medical outreach programme.
He said: “In line with the 55th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, the Military Cantonment Onitsha led by Col. Abdullahi Isah organised this Medical Outreach on behalf of the Nigerian Army.
“The military is using this medical service to foster civil military relationship, and to also make our civilian brothers and sisters know that we also care for them, despite that we play our primary and statutory function of ensuring the protection of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, we also care for their health that is why we came to Aguleri to offer this free medical service.
“We are offering services on many health issues and we will attend to you on outpatient basis. We have just done health talk on diseases that are preventable and consultation is being provided, whereby after being checked from the records section.”
He said that the Cantonment planned to extend the medical outreach programme to other areas in Anambra state.