Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
No fewer than 5000 persons on Monday benefited from a medical outreach organized by the 8 Division Headquarters Nigerian Army, Sokoto.
The outreach was held at Dambuwa Gidan Gabas, Dange/Shuni local government area, and was part of line-up activities to mark the 2025 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).
The beneficiaries, who are residents of Dambuwa outskirt of Sokoto metropolis, received free treatment on Eye care and Dental care, Hyphatensive tests, Diabetes, Mellitus and free medical consultation, while others benefited from free laboratory tests and treated Mosquito nets.
The General Officer Commanding 8 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Sector 2 Operation Fansan Yamman, Major General Ibukunle Ajose, who flagged the exercise urged the Gidan Gabas Community to take advantage of the medical outreach by submitting themselves for free medical services.
The GOC represented by Brigadier General Ogbannay Igwe stated that the 8 Division Nigerian Army would continue to maintain the already existing cordial relationship with its host civilian Communities.
“We’ll continue to conduct medical outreaches and other support services to host communities whenever the need arises as part of its social responsibility.”
Speaking during the day exercise, the Commander, 8 Division Medical Services and Hospital Brigadier General Austin Okafor said the command targeted about 5000 people to benefit from the medical outreach.
“We are confident that we are going to achieve the 5,000 target as patients are still trooping.”
“We have separate specialists to handle cases of Malaria, Diabetes, hypertension, Eye care, and Dental among others.
“It’s the vision of the Chief of Army Staff was to see a Nigerian Army that would not only deliver on its constitutional responsibilities of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria but also assist in meeting the health needs of the people.”
The representative of Gidan Gabas community leader Malam Abubakar Dambuwa commended the army for the all-important gesture.
“We hope that this kind gesture by the Nigerian Army will be sustained for the wellbeing of the Gidan Gabas community and other communities around us”
“We have a long-standing cordial relationship with the Army, “There was never a time when we experienced any problem with them since the establishment of Giginya barrack decades ago.”
He said most of the free services offered by the army were very expensive and called on other organizations to emulate the spirit behind the medical outreach.
A beneficiary, Malam Muhammad Dambuwa who spoke to our correspondent shortly after receiving his eyeglasses hoped that the Nigerian Army would make the medical outreach regular, as people are now in dire need of medical support especially during the present economic downturn.
