Southern Kaduna: NAF Provides Medical Services to
Internally Displaced Persons
Some succour has come the way of the Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) in Zonkwa, Zangon-Kataf Local Government Area (LGA)
and Mariri in Lere LGA of Kaduna State as the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF) commenced 3-day medical outreach at each of the 2 locations
for victims of recent armed banditry attacks in the State. The free
medical services, an initiative of the Chief of the Air Staff
(CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, began today, 23 August 2020,
and is aimed at enhancing good civil-military relations between the
NAF and host communities as well as alleviating the hardship being
experienced by the IDPs who are currently camped at Mercy IDP Camp
in Zonkwa and the Mariri IDP Camp in Lere LGA. The first phase of
the medical outreach will end on 25 August 2020 while the outreach
in Mariri will commence on 27 August 2020.
The free healthcare services that would be offered during the
outreach include; free medical check-up and consultation with
treatment of malaria, hypertension, diabetes, ulcers and provision
of prescription medications as well as free dental
examination/treatment. Other medical services that would be offered
during the exercise include free visual acuity checks and provision
of prescription eye glasses, free minor surgical procedures,
de-worming and immunization of children as well as donation of
insecticide-treated mosquito nets. The Medical Team would also give
health education talks on COVID-19 and distribute non-surgical
cloth face masks to the IDPs. In addition, relief materials,
including cartons of noodles, soap and detergents as well as
blankets and bags of garri, were also distributed to the IDPs.
Flagging off the medical outreach, the Chairman, Zangon-Kataf
LGA, Dr Elias Manza, who was represented by the Vice Chairman of
the Local Government, Mr Tonac Yakubu, appreciated the NAF for the
kind gesture and promised to partner with the Service to ensure a
successful outing. “Despite the fact that we are bereaved, we were
very excited when we heard that the NAF was organizing a medical
outreach in Zonkwa. We are very delighted. I want to say thank you
so much for seeing through our plight and coming to commiserate
with us and also to take care of our sick and displaced people. Our
joy knows no bound and we pray that this heart of kindness and
concern is just the beginning of what we would see the NAF doing in
our midst”, he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the Medical Team, who is
also the Chief of Medical Services, NAF, Air Commodore Gideon Bako,
while commiserating with the IDPs, stated that the CAS was very
passionate about humanitarian activities and had shown immense
concern for the plight of the people affected by the recent
banditry attacks in the area. He noted that the NAF would do
everything within its power to bring succour to the people and calm
the restiveness to enable the people of the Community continue with
their daily businesses. “We are going to have 6 days of medical
outreach, that would be conducted in 2 phases. Three days will be
done here at the Mercy IDP Camp, while the remaining 3 days will be
at Mariri IDP Camp in Lere LGA”, he added. He therefore solicited
the cooperation of the people for the successful conduct of the
medical outreach.
In their separate messages, the Agwam Bajju, His Royal Highness
Mallam Nuhu Bature, represented by Ogwatia Stephen Akut, and the
Agwam Atyap, represented by Mr Biliock Waje, appreciated the CAS
and the entire NAF family for the medical outreach. Members of the
Community, who turned out in their large numbers, were also full of
appreciation to the NAF for its continued support in the provision
of security and free medical services to the people of the LGA.
The flag-off ceremony was witnessed by the Coordinator of the
Mercy IDP Camp, Reverend Gambo Waziri; the NAF Director of Public
Health and Humanitarian Services, Group Captain Ali Tanko, who was
part of the Medical Team, as well as the Deputy Director,
Civil-Military Relations, Headquarters NAF, Group Captain Musa
Aileru, amongst others.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
23 August 2020