The Director General, National Youth Service Corps NYSC, Brig Gen Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed today 16th May ,2023 flagged off in Abuja, medical outreaches for Rural dwellers.The medical outreach organized in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the scheme.
The flag off ceremony had in attendance;the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs.Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, Honourable Ministers, Heads of Agencies, traditional and religious leaders, and members of the Jahi II Community.
Brig Gen YD Ahmed in his opening remarks said since its establishment five decades ago, the National Youth Service Corps has remained an enduring platform for the mobilization of human and material resources for the actualization of the Nigeria of our dream.
The DG accordingly said”The Scheme has long been a catalyst of our socio-cultural, political and economic development.
“Like other developing countries, Nigeria faces challenges in its health sector, but concerted efforts are being made by various stakeholders, including the NYSC, with a view to making the system more functional. As a Scheme that has continued to expand its frontiers in the delivery of services to Nigerians, NYSC launched its Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme in 2014. It is a platform through which Corps medical personnel comprising Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses, and Dentists, amongst others, provide free and quality health care for the people, especially the rural poor.
“I am pleased to report that, so far, over three million Nigerians have benefitted from this initiative. The outreach being flagged-off today comes just five weeks after a similar one we conducted at the IDP Centre, Malaysia Garden, Abuja, where people came out in large numbers to receive free treatment for various medical conditions. We made other special interventions such as the administration of vaccines, sensitization of the community on HIV/AIDS prevention and sanitation, among others.
“It is gratifying to note that Her Excellency, the First Lady, has shown more than a passing interest in the success of the HIRD. We are still relishing her benevolence in donating this high-capacity ultra-modern mobile clinic that is deployed here today. I am pleased to report that the facility, which was handed over to the Scheme a year ago, has greatly enhanced the efficiency of our health interventions. We, therefore, thank you once again even as we look forward to further support for the Scheme. We also thank individuals and corporate bodies that have contributed in one way or the other to the success of the HIRD since its inception.
“In line with our commitment to sustaining the relevance of the Scheme through its post-Golden Jubilee operations, I would like to assure Nigerians that the provision of quality health services will remain one of our priorities. Accordingly, we shall continue to work with various stakeholders to make the HIRD programme more impactful.
” Once again, I thank Her Excellency for being supportive to the Scheme over the years and, particularly, identifying with us on this occasion. Our appreciation also goes to the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the NYSC National Governing Board whose encouragement and support facilitate the success of the Scheme. To the relevant schedule officers of NYSC and the Corps Medical Personnel, I commend your commitment as drivers of this programme, hoping you will maintain the tempo”.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, NYSC National Governing Board, Amb. Fatima Balla Abubakar said the HIRD programme was launched in 2014 with a view to ameliorating the difficulties faced by indigent Nigerians, especially the rural dwelling ones, in accessing quality health care. She added that the initiative was implemented through well planned medical outreaches with special focus on rural areas.
“Available records have shown that the programme, which is carried out every quarter of the year in all the States of the Federation and the FCT, has brought succour to over four million beneficiaries, who could not have afforded medical bills.
“This special edition of the HIRD is organized in further demonstration of the commitment of the Scheme to putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians, and a reflection of its relevance in the trajectory of nation building. I, therefore, use this opportunity to commend the NYSC Management, the supervising officials and the Corps medical personnel for sustaining this laudable initiative”NYSC Chairman said.
