The Multinational Joint Task Force(MNJTF) has embarked on a 6-day free medical outreach as part of its non-kinetic approach to enhance the health and well-being of local populations affected by insurgency within the areas of its operations.
The initiative by the MNJTF Sector 3, birthed through the African Union (AU) and financed by the European Union(EU), is aimed at providing free medical consultations and distribution of essential drugs to those in need, ensuring that vulnerable communities receive vital healthcare services and also to encourage the local population to return to their ancestral homes.
The AU, through the EU’s finance, implements various CIMIC projects, such as school renovations, provision of educational kits, industrial boreholes, agricultural equipment, food and non-food items, and medical outreach, as requested by the MNJTF.
The initiative has been met with an overwhelming response from the locals, who have seized the opportunity to consult with medical professionals about various health issues and receive necessary treatments and medications at no cost.
A statement on Friday by the acting assistant director, Army Public Relations Sector 3 OPHK/ MNJTF, Mungonu, Lt. Ayodeji Abiodun, said the MNJTF’s civil-military cooperation activities, such as this outreach programme, demonstrate the organisation’s dedication to alleviating the healthcare burden on communities with limited access to medical facilities and frequent disruptions due to instability.
He noted that by addressing the immediate healthcare needs of the communities, the MNJTF aims to build trust and cooperation between the military and local populations, ultimately contributing to regional stability.
He added that the outreach, which commenced on August 26, in Kukawa and Monguno towns, witnessed about 3,000 residents benefiting from the programme.
