From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The management of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has promised to leverage on the expertise of Corps Medical Personnel, like the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory scientists, to reach out to four million Nigerians with its medical outreach.
The Director General of the scheme, YD Ahmed, made the disclosure in his remarks on Thursday in Abuja at the flag-off of special medical outreach under the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) for the first quarter of the year 2024.
Speaking at the unique edition of the programme to celebrate the first anniversary of his assumption of duty, the Director-General said: “The HIRD is the platform on which the NYSC caters for the health needs of the people in rural communities, who have little or no access to quality healthcare. In essence, we are deploying the resources at our disposal to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government towards achieving universal health coverage as part of its social welfare programmes.
“In driving this initiative, we leverage the expertise of Corps Medical Personnel, such as Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, and Laboratory Scientists, that are deployed to render free and qualitative medical services to communities across the country. We also mobilise medical consumables, including drugs, to treat ailments, while referrals are made to relevant health facilities, when necessary.
“I am pleased to report that since the commencement of the programme, we have reached out to 3,650,000 Nigerians by way of sensitisation on causes and prevention of diseases; treatment of ailments; and referrals. Our target is to reach at least 500,000 additional beneficiaries this year.
“It is heart-warming to note that the successes recorded in the programme over the years have been partly due to the support of various stakeholders, especially those that provide resources, such as drugs and other consumables for use during outreaches of this nature.
“I, therefore, wish to use this opportunity to once again express our profound gratitude to Government Agencies, non-governmental organisations as well as public-spirited individuals that have continued to lend helping hands towards sustaining this laudable initiative.
“At this juncture, I would like to also commend the patriotic zeal of Corps members of successive batches, who have been the field implementers of the HIRD in all States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Indeed, your dedication to this humanitarian endeavour is not only touching the lives of Nigerians positively, but also contributes to the visibility the NYSC as a Scheme that is responsive to national needs. I enjoin you to sustain the tempo of your commitment and continue to be shining examples for other youths of our great country.
“I wish to thank the leaders and members of Gosa-Sarki community for the warm reception accorded us and the arrangements put in place for hitch-free conduct of the programme. I call on you all to avail yourselves of this rare opportunity to know your health status and access free medical treatment,” he appealed.