Navy conducts medical outreach in Rivers State

By Philip Nwosu

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder has extended its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to Rivers State through a medical outreach programme aimed at improving access to healthcare in underserved communities.

Residents of Opobo Nkoro and Rumuolumeni communities recently benefited from the outreach, which offered a variety of essential medical services, including blood pressure and blood sugar checks, screenings for hepatitis B and C, malaria tests, urine analysis, and general medical consultations for all age groups.

As part of efforts to combat malaria, the team distributed insecticide-treated mosquito nets to children and pregnant women, a measure designed to reduce the prevalence of the disease in the region.

Speaking during the event, Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Navy Commodore Cajetan Aniaku, highlighted the importance of the initiative, saying, “The essence is to provide medical services to those who may not have access to regular medical care within the communities.”

Commander Aniaku added that the Navy hopes to expand similar programmes in the future to reach more people, noting that this outreach aligns with the vision of the Chief of Naval Staff, who has emphasised community engagement and humanitarian interventions as key components of the Navy’s operations.

By bridging healthcare gaps, the NNS Pathfinder is not only fulfilling its CSR mandate but also strengthening ties with local communities, fostering trust, and promoting harmonious coexistence.

The success of this initiative underscores the Nigerian Navy’s broader commitment to not just defending the nation’s waters but also making tangible impacts on the lives of citizens, reaffirming its role as a key partner in nation-building.

The Navy had earlier reiterated its commitment to fostering Civil-Military Relations through impactful CSR initiatives, encouraging residents to take advantage of the healthcare services offered and describing the outreach as a “hospital setting brought to the doorstep of the community.”