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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The usual parade ground briefing at the Imo State Police Command Headquarters, Owerri, recently, gave way to stethoscopes and prescription sheets as Patricklingo Pharmaceuticals turned the compound into a one-day clinic.
The firm not only donated essential medicines to officers, but also ran a medical outreach that focused on the people who secure the state.
The company said the initiative was driven by the reality of police work: long hours, high stress and little time for personal healthcare. That gap has consequences. A 2025 study in the Nigerian Health Journal revealed that 49.7% of police personnel were hypertensive, a statistic that framed the outreach as preventive care, not just charity.
Chief executive officer of Patricklingo Pharmaceuticals, Patrick Onwuelingo, while presenting the medications to the state Commissioner of Police, Garba Bosso, pointed to the physical and mental toll of daily policing as the reason behind the gesture.
“Healthcare should not be a luxury, especially for those who dedicate their lives to public safety,” Onwuelingo said. “This outreach is our way of showing appreciation and ensuring that those who protect us also receive the care they deserve.”
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The medications were chosen to cover common health needs among officers, with the goal of improving access to basic healthcare right inside the command. For many personnel, it meant treatment without taking leave or traveling to a hospital.
Onwuelingo stressed that the company wants its impact felt in real lives, not just on pharmacy shelves. “This initiative marks the beginning of what we hope will be a sustained relationship with the Imo State Police Command and other institutions that serve the public,” he said.
Patricklingo Pharmaceuticals reiterated plans to expand similar health initiatives across Nigerian communities. The company highlighted private sector partnerships with public institutions as a practical way to support frontline service providers whose welfare often gets overlooked.
CP Bosso, who received the donation on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Rilwan Disu, commended the gesture and noted the direct link between officers’ health and effective policing. He thanked the company for backing personnel who work daily to secure the state. He also acknowledged the novelty of the event for the command. Bosso noted that it was the first time such a medical outreach would be extended to them and assured that the medications will be distributed freely to men of his command.
The outreach in Owerri touched a broader issue that frontline workers often fall through the cracks of routine healthcare access. With hypertension rates near 50% among police personnel, initiatives like this move from goodwill to necessity. For Patricklingo, the message is that support for public safety should include the health of the people providing it.
