3,000 IDPs receive NAF free medicare service in Niger

No fewer than 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Shiroro local government area of Niger state are to benefit from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) three days free medical services.

The IDPs are victims of recent armed banditry in Chukuba and Kwaki communities.

The medical outreach, which commenced Thursday, would provide free medicare service to women, children and the aged, who are currently camped at Erena Primary School in Shiroro local government area.

The humanitarian initiative is conducted based on the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, to the NAF Medical Services branch to provide immediate succour and alleviate the plights of the victims of banditry attacks, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said in a statement.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the leader of the NAF Medical Team and Director of Public Health and Humanitarian Services, Headquarters NAF, Group Captain Ali Tanko, stated that the team would be in Erena IDP camp for three days to attend to about 3,000 patients, while those requiring general and eye surgeries would be operated upon.

According to him, the medical outreach would also provide free medical consultations, laboratory tests, free drugs, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, visual acuity checks, de-worming of children as well as distribution of prescription eye glasses to about 1,000 persons from the affected communities. 

The first day of the medical outreach witnessed a large turnout of IDPs who were treated for different medical conditions.

The beneficiaries, who were visibly elated by the gesture, expressed appreciation to the NAF for the services provided by the Medical Team.

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