•Corps doctors treat Kaduna senior citizens, others free
From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
For many reasons, including lack of money, distance and attitude, most Nigerians, especially those in rural areas, do not usually visit hospitals and other medical facilities for general check-up, except when they are down with ailments beyond their control.
•Corps doctors examining beneficiaries of HIRD programme in Buwaya
With that in mind, coupled with the volume of young Nigerian graduates from various higher institutions within and outside the country, the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in 2014, came up with the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) designed specifically to provide basic healthcare service at community level.
•Aboki
Senior citizens in Buwaya, an agrarian community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, were among the beneficiaries of the 2024 first quarter medical outreach, HIRD, championed by Corps medical personnel currently undergoing their one-year national service in Kaduna State.
•Elisha
Some of them have not been to the hospital for a decade even when they are experiencing ailments associated with old age like hearing loss, cataracts and refractive errors, back and neck pain and osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, depression and dementia. They rely on herbs and make-shift medicine stores.
Speaking to this correspondent through an interpreter (for she could only speak in Hausa and Gbagyi languages) shortly after she was attended to by the Corps medical team at LGEA Primary School, Buwaya, an 80-year-old woman, Kande George, said the last time she visited a hospital was in 2015 when she was taken to Kano for eye surgery.
•Dr. Awwal
“My people took me to Kano in 2015 for surgery on one of my eyes. Since that time, I have not gone to any hospital. Sometimes, I feel pain in my body. But no hospital close to me.
“I’m happy I’m here today. They checked my blood pressure and gave me drugs for free. I am very happy and I thank the people who made this happen. I heard about it yesterday that these people would be coming. So, I planned to be here with the support of my people and I’m here,” she said.
Another senior citizen, 75-year-old Yakubu Gajere, was diagnosed with high blood pressure. According to him, he has not been taking his drugs in the past two years due to the harsh economy and lack of a hospital nearby.
“My drugs finished two years ago and I was unable to go to hospital due to scarce resources. I thank God that someone was able to lead me to this place. I thank NYSC for this kind gesture. God bless them,” the old man prayed.
On his part, the foremost Gbagyi traditional father, Etsu Chikun, Sir Gbagyi II Dr. Ishaku Yari, who was represented by Kunyanbana Gbagyi, Chief Peter Aboki, said bringing the Corps medical team down to his community was of great importance to his people because many of them could not afford to go to hospital even to check blood pressure.
“You can see from their faces, they hardly go to hospital unless they are down with ailment. This is a welcome development and NYSC should continue as a symbol of unity.
“The NYSC keeps bringing diverse people and cultures together so we can understand ourselves better. That will foster peace among us. You know, people find another set of lifetime friends during the service year. It should be strengthened to touch more lives,” he said.
A community leader, Elisha Abashe, noted that the health programme targeting rural dwellers was a very good initiative because health is wealth, and like a costly commodity that everyone is looking for.
“Those who are blessed with good health want to maintain it. But, to get health service is expensive in this part of the World. So, a lot of the people here cannot afford to pay for it and that is why this NYSC idea is commendable. I wish this is happening every week. But I understand other communities are waiting,” he said.
To him, the national service should be two years, especially for those who want to have their businesses with the first year to learn and master a skill while the second year will be for start-ups with financial and other necessary support so we can address the perennial questions like what next after NYSC.
“I’m saying this because our young people only study theory in school without thorough practicals that expose them to the entrepreneurial aspect of those courses they studied. So, when you have a skill, you are empowered to be an entrepreneur which is good for us”, he said.
The leader of the Corps medical team, Dr Rabiu Awwal, an eye specialist who graduated from Bayero University, Kano, Kano State, said malaria was the topmost disease among the people of Buwaya just like in many other communities his team has visited recently.
“I’m feeling happy for doing this. God has helped me to unlock my gift around health. The NYSC has provided me with a bigger platform to go to different communities to render my service for free.
“NYSC is empowering us with leadership skills and the need for selfless service like what we are doing here today. As a young Hausa man, the NYSC has helped me to meet Igbo, Yoruba, Urhobo, Gbagyi, Nupe, Igala, Ishan and the list is on,” he said.
As the icing on the cake, Assistant Director, Community Development, NYSC, Mr. Shepyen Clatus, described the free healthcare service as just one of those things the scheme is doing to keep to its mandate of national unity and integration.
“As you can see, we have these young Nigerians who have come from different parts of the country rendering selfless service to the people and tongues different from theirs. In addition to this teamwork, Corps members are also doing different personal community development projects anywhere they are posted.
“In recent times, we have reached about 12,000 rural dwellers. The programme was initiated and piloted in Kwara and Lagos states by the management of the NYSC in 2014. Ever since, we have been doing this across several communities in all the States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” he said.
The coordinator of the scheme in the state, Mr. Hassan Mahmood Taura, said the initiative became necessary because the vast majority of the Kaduna populace resides in rural areas which are usually not lucky to have medical facilities.
“Majority of our people live in rural areas which are usually not endowed with medical facilities. This is a very important programme in our community.
“Among the corps medical team were medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, psychiatrists, and optometrists who are addressing different ailments as presented by the beneficiaries. Any serious health issue identified will be referred to a higher health facility in town,” he added.