Residents of Ayobo-Ipaja Community on Monday turned out in their hundreds for the free medical outreach organised by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach slated to hold from June 21 to June 23 was tagged: “Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers”.
It was organised by the NYSC in Lagos State, in conjunction with the Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
In his remarks, Mr Eddy Megwa, State Cordinator of NYSC, said the idea was to bring medical assistance to people at the grassroots.
Megwa said that the three-day health outreach would be carried out by corps members, particularly those in the medical profession.
“Beyond the deployment of the corps members to carry out the services in their places of primary assignment, we have also decided to bring this laudable initiative to the people’s doorsteps.
“We are here today in Atan Kekere, tomorrow, it will hold at Baruwa, and on Wednesday at the Palace of Olorunisola; so, we expect more turn out as the medical checks and drugs will be administered for free.
“Over the years, NYSC had been making a lot of landmarks in ensuring that we bring services of the scheme to the doorsteps of Nigerians.
“This we have done in the areas of health, education, infrastructure development and socials,” he said.
The state coordinator said that the corps members were tested, trusted and approved by Nigerians.
“The international communities have also commended their efforts for participating strongly in various elections in Nigeria, and generally in the nation building,” he said.
Megwa said that arrangements had been concluded to take the initiative to move round every quarter, and basically to the rural environments.
“Our target is for everyone to benefit from this healthcare services, and we are taking a step further by establishing community-based clinics in various communities, and also setting up a clinic in NYSC Secretariat.
According to him, plans are also in progress to set up clinics in some of NYSC zonal offices.
He said that no fewer than three million people have benefited from the scheme since the health initiative commenced.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of NYSC Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Shuiabu, represented by Mrs Prescilla Akhamie, a Deputy Director, commended the collaboration of the Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, as the host, with the scheme.
Shuiabu said the support would provide an enabling environment for the scheme to contribute its quota to address the healthcare challenges of the masses, particularly those at the grassroots,” he said.
Also, Mrs Bola Shobowale, Vice Chairman, Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, lauded the scheme’s imitative, urging members of the community and the beneficiaries to spread the awareness.
According to her, the healthcare initiative scheme, being carried out with free medications, would go a long way to help the people to know their health status.
“This is a wonderful and commendable initiative; the people here are going home with the knowledge of their health status, believing that they will spread the good news,” she added. (NAN)
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