Over 500 residents of Erin-Ile and neighbouring communities in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State on Friday received free medical treatment and essential healthcare services through a Nigerian Army civil-military cooperation initiative.

The outreach brought range of medical interventions to the rural community, including general consultations, dental and eye care, laboratory investigations, counselling, medication and health education, providing residents with access to services that some may otherwise struggle to afford.

Representing the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu , the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Musa Awwal Etsu-Ndagi, said the exercise was to combine healthcare delivery with efforts to strengthen trust and understanding between the military and host communities.

He said the Nigerian Army had continued to use medical outreaches as part of its civil-military cooperation programmes to improve the welfare of communities where its personnel operate.

“We are holding this medical outreach today. Medical outreach is one of those civil-military cooperation activities that we carry out in the Nigerian Army, not only to support the local communities where we operate in terms of medical care, but also to show them how much we love them,” Etsu-Ndagi said.

He appreciated the people of Erin-Ile for response to the initiative, urging them to take advantage of the various services provided by the medical team.

“I would like to thank the area community for accepting this medical outreach in good faith,” he said.

The Army representative disclosed that the Erin-Ile programme was the third in a series of medical outreaches, with another exercise expected to be conducted under the initiative.

Beyond treatment, the programme also featured a symbolic deworming exercise for children and the distribution of mosquito nets to selected women as part of measures aimed at promoting preventive healthcare and reducing the risk of malaria and other health challenges.

The Elerin of Erin-Ile, Oba Jimoh Adebowale Adesoye, commended the Nigerian Army for taking free healthcare services to the community, describing the intervention as beneficial.

The traditional ruler expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff and officers and personnel involved in the exercise for choosing Erin-Ile as a beneficiary.

Oba Adesoye said bringing healthcare services closer to residents demonstrated the Army’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians beyond its traditional security responsibilities.

He urged residents to take full advantage of the medical services and health advice offered during the exercise, while noting that the initiative would further strengthen the relationship between the Army and the community.

For some beneficiaries, the outreach provided not only medical attention but also relief from the financial burden associated with consultation, diagnosis and medication.

One of the beneficiaries, Abass Akegbeyala, commended the Army for bringing the programme to Erin-Ile, saying residents were given an opportunity to receive treatment without worrying about the cost of healthcare.

Mrs. Oladejo Omolayo also expressed satisfaction with the attention she received from the medical personnel, saying she was properly attended to and given medication after consultation.

She thanked the Nigerian Army for the initiative and urged beneficiaries to adhere to the medical advice given to them.

Another beneficiary, Ademola Omo-Aweda, praised the medical team for what he described as their care and professionalism, while calling for more interventions of the kind in rural communities.

The outreach underscored the role of civil-military initiatives in extending basic healthcare services to underserved communities while creating opportunities for closer interaction between military personnel and civilians.