The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy on Thursday, offered free medical care to residents of Ovom community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Adm. Sampson Bura, said that the intervention was to strengthen the relationship between the navy and its host communities.
Bura, represented by the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, Cmdr. Olushina Ojebode, said that the gesture was also in line with the tenets of the Chief of Naval Staff of strategic engagement with the civil populace.
He said that beneficiaries of the free medical services were usually communities that host Naval facilities.
“We will be rendering a range of medical services, starting with a public health talk, vital signs checks, medical consultations and treatments, eye sight checks and distribution of medicated eye glasses, as well as some laboratory tests.
“Free drugs will also be distributed for various ailments as well as insecticidal treated mosquito nets, which will be given to pregnant women and nursing mothers,” he said.
Bura said that the medical outreach was one of the many avenues the Navy uses to give back to the communities.
“Additionally, it is the belief of the Chief of Naval Staff that events like this will stimulate the interest and the desire of the youths in the community to aspire to a career in the Nigerian Navy.
“I implore you to maximize the benefits of this event; I urge you to partner with us in our bid to making the society secure, safe and conducive for all,” he said.
On his part, Capt. Abubakar Aliyu, the Command’s Medical Officer, said over the years, the CNC had conducted similar exercises in several places within the responsibility of the command.
“It is expected that by this gesture, the bond between the community and the Nigerian Navy would be further strengthened.
“The Nigerian Navy is mostly known for her maritime activities, joint operations with other services and peace keeping duties. Apart from these, the Navy also takes her corporate social responsibilities seriously.
“It is in the light of these aspirations, that the Nigerian Navy deemed it right to include this event in the end of year activities.
“The event is a form of health and social outreach designed to impact positively on our host communities,” he said.
In his remarks, Chief Loveday Abaribote, the Chairman, Ovom Chiefs Council, lauded the Nigerian Navy for the free medical outreach to the people of Ovom.
He appealed to the Nigerian Navy to always remember communities in the area, so as to encourage the youths to join the military.
One of the beneficiaries, Chief Thank-God Gagbe, appreciated the Navy for the gesture and urged people in the area to reciprocate by embracing peace and supporting the navy with useful information to secure the waterways.
