A total of 315 persons in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, have benefited from a free medical service rendered by the Onitsha Military Cantonment of the Nigerian Army.

The event which took place in Amaeze, Aguleri, was part of the activities lined up by the army to celebrate Nigeria’s 55th Independence Anniversary.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Officer in Charge of the Military Cantonment Medical Reception Station, Captain Saheed Oyekanmi Shittu, said that the medical service was part of the social responsibilities of the army.

He assured that the gesture would not stop at Governor Willie Obiano’s town but would be extended to other communities in the state.

Said Captain Shittu: “In line with the 55th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, the Military Cantonment Onitsha led by Col. Abdullahi Isah organised this Medical Outreach on behalf of the Nigerian Army.

“The military is using this medical service to foster civil military relationship, and to also make our civilian brothers and sisters know that we also care for them, despite that we play our primary and statutory function of ensuring the protection of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, we also care for their health that is why we came to Aguleri to offer this free medical service.

“We are offering services on many health issues and we will attend to you on outpatient basis. We have just done health talk on diseases that are preventable and consultation is being provided, whereby after being checked from the records section, the nurses check your vital signs and from there you will come to see the doctors, where the patients presents their complaints and then to the Pharmacy where the drugs are being dispensed.

“Patients who required to carry out laboratory investigation, were referred to laboratory section where rapid investigations were carried out in order to get quick medical services as many as those that came out for the programme.

“We offered services on Malaria, Typhoid fever, Upper respiratory tract infection, Urinary tract infections Gastro enteritis, diahorrea, skin infection, hypertension, diabetes, rheumatism, and other health challenges. Diseases that are very prevalent in our environment are what we are capable of handling here.”

Shittu noted that the exercise will last for one week before they proceed to other communities in the state adding that the exercise was financed by the Nigerian Army without donation from anybody or corporate organisation.