No fewer than 2,000 persons from Rumuolumeni community in Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State, on Tuesday, benefitted from the free medical rhapsody of the Nigerian Navy.
Rumuolumeni is the host community to the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder as well as several multinational oil and gas companies.
The free medical programme featured Hepatitis B screening, Blood Sugar check, Blood Pressure check, Malaria test, HIV screening and Hepatitis C screening.
Others were vaccinations for children, distribution of insecticide treated nets, Urine test, free eye examination, free distribution of recommended glasses, free medication distribution, free consultation, health education, and dental services.
Declaring the programme open, the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Samson Bura, said the exercise was a means initiated by the Nigerian Navy to connect with its host communities.
Bura, who was represented by the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Shipyard Limited, Rear Admiral Frederick Damtong, said like education, the issue of health is a key and important sector in government and governance.
He said: “Basically, we conduct medical rhapsodies as a means to connect with the host communities, to reach out to them. Like education, health is also a key and important sector in government and in governance. That is why we are also having a very vibrant and viable medical section as a military. We also use the opportunity to reach out to the public.
“Our relationship with Rumuolumeni community as our host has been good, it has been growing and we expecting in to grow stronger.”
Speaking also, the Commander, NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, said their target was to ensure that no fewer than 2,000 persons from Rumuolumeni community benefitted from the programme.
Igbo said: “For beneficiaries for the free medical rhapsody, our target is as high as 2000 because the programme will take the whole of the day; from this morning to about 6:00pm. Even those who are not here, we are going to wait for them.
“Our medical experts are here in all shades and discipline. We are here and will wait for them till 6:00pm. Even those that went to the farm or market, we will wait for them to return. Our target is about 2000.”
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