Agency begins free medical treatment for soldiers, families

TO boost the morale of Nigerian military personnel involved in the fight against insurgency, an international organization, Cry for Help, has commenced free medical treatment for soldiers and members of their families.

The programme, according to organizers, will take a stretch of three months and would move to all military barracks in the country.

   Founder of Cry for Help, Vera Mensah, who spoke at the flag off of the medical mission at the Mambilla Barracks, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory stressed that over 2, 000 medical personnel were involved in the scheme with enough drugs for those in need of them. She said the scheme was in partnership with Good Health for All Nigerians Initiative.

   Her words: “We are in collaboration with Good Health for All Nigerians Initiative to carry out free medical treatment in all the barracks of Nigeria. As you can see, it is way beyond giving rice. It is free medical care. This is to guarantee some kind of free health for all. A nation of good health is a wealthy nation. All households have to be okay, whether you are a child, an adult or old, you have got to access it.”

   On the specific areas of intervention, she stressed:  Our programme covers all aspects of care from general medicine, dentistry, optometry, checking of the eyes to ensuring that everything is alright, and if need be, there are free glasses.  We have got nurses, lab scientists. We have also got doctors who would diagnose and prescribe whatever sort of drug a patient needs.

   “However, there is minor surgery that is going to be done at every barrack that we go to. Whatever surgery that can’t be done during this mission, will be referred to the hospital of everyone’s choice still free. The collaboration between both organizations is to ensure that we give free medical care to all.” The programme will take about three months, because we are going to be going round all the barracks.  It is not something that we have to rush. We have more than 2000 specialists that will be working under this scheme. We are doing this because the need is there.”

 Secretary General, Cry for Help, Alfred Sanni, noted that the medical mission would take free medical services to the doorstep of military persons.

  He said: “Basically, we are going to the door steps of soldiers and family members so they benefit directly from the efforts that they put into their country.”

  Coordinator, Good health for All Nigerian Initiative, Hon Sandra Damian, stressed that the project was flagged off from barracks to encourage the Military in their current efforts in fighting terrorism.