NYSC D-G flags off free veterinary/medical service in Gombe

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has begun a four-day free medical and veterinary services campaign in Gombe state under its Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers.

Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Suleiman Zakari Kazaure, while flagging off the programme at Sabon-Gari, Nassarawo, in Gombe metropolis, called for more collaboration with communities and authorities of Local Governments in reaching the grassroots with health-care delivery for both humans and animals.

According to him, “the NYSC is full of abundance of human resources. We have the wherewithal in human resources – the manpower, what we lack is the materials. So it is in our character to collaborate with the government in the state to get this healthcare delivery to the rural areas using our Corps members”.

Represented by the Gombe State Coordinator, Mr. Tobias Ibeh Chidube, Brig. Gen Kazaure commended the Gombe Local Government Chairman for his support towards the programme, which was being planned for another community before he came in.

The NYSC D-G told the Community that the greatest favour they could offer to the NYSC is to make sure they make themselves available in the next four days.

Chairman of Gombe Local Government, Sani Hassan Sarkin-Dogarai acknowledged the dearth of health manpower especially doctors, which informed their decision to cash in on the programme. The scheme gulped N500, 000 in both drugs and logistics.

He commended the NYSC for initiating and implementing the Scheme in his area and pledged the local Council’s willingness to always support the scheme in anyway possible.

On his part, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr. Chidube said they have had the programme twice within the last three years – at Chilo in Akko Local Government Area and Malam-Sidi in Kwami Local Government Area.

He said the major challenge had been getting the Local Governments to accept to take responsibility for the programme while the NYSC provides the manpower.

He said cases diagnosed to be beyond the scope of the programme would be referred to relevant hospitals adding that the event is programmed for four days but could spill over as previously experienced.

Nuraina Abdufata, President of the Medical and Health Community Development Service (CDS) group said forty to fifty Corps members would be on ground per day for the programme.

He said the veterinary doctors amongst them would attend to the animals and also advise the people on how to avoid animal to man transfer of diseases.