The Nigerian Army says no fewer than 100 residents of Iwaya community have benefited from a medical outreach it organised to commemorate the 2024 edition of its Combat Service Support Training Week.
Maj.-Gen. Philip Eromosele, the Commander, Corps of Engineers said on Monday in Lagos that the outreach was part of the army’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
According to him, the outreach will further strengthen the relationship between the army and the host community.
Eromosele represented the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja at the event.
Eromosele said that the Nigerian Army carried out several activities as part of its civic military operations to foster a healthy relationship in the civil populace.
“One of such events is medical outreach which is carried out periodically to give back to the populace while improving their medical well being.
“This medical outreach heralds the beginning of the Combat Service Support Training Week” he said.
The commander said that the medical outreach was important to the Nigerian Army in its drive to develop human capacity in communities.
“I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to check your blood pressure, treat malaria and other prevalent medical challenges that this outreach is intended to address.
“I urge you to continue to give your best to the army so that we can continue to serve you better,” he said.
Eromosele thanked the Yaba Local Government Development Area (LGDA), traditional rulers and members of Iwaya community for the trust and confidence they had in the Nigerian Army.
“Events like this are routine in the army as efforts to promote civic military cooperation to give to the populace and foster cordial relationship in the community.
“This enables the army to get the needed support from the people in order to do our jobs much more better.
“So, we will continue to identify communities in need and render as much assistance that the army can in support of these communities,” the commander said.
In the same vein, the traditional ruler or Iwaya Yaba Kingdom, Oba Sulaiman Ogun-Oloko, appreciated the Nigerian Army for the wonderful gesture to the community.
Ogun-Oloko said that the primary duty of the Nigerian Army was to protect the sovereignty of Nigerian space but that they also brought succour to the sufferings of Nigerians through their CSR.
“We appreciate the Nigerian Army for this and thank the army for remembering our kingdom for the medical outreach.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two physically challenged people, Mr Ganui Qadir and Master Shedrack Hunsa got a wheel chair each during the outreach.
Several other people got eye glasses and tablets for the treatment of malaria fever and typhoid fever, among other illnesses.