Navy gives free medical care to over 1,000 in Rivers community

The Headquarters of the Naval Training Command, in Rivers State, has provided free medical services to over 1,000 indigenes of Ebubu Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Guardian gathered that the gesture was to support the government’s efforts toward improving quality healthcare services for the people.

The free medical services included free consultation, medical checks, free glasses, free sanitary pads, free HIV screening, free educational support materials, among others.

The outreach was held at the Community Secondary School, Ebubu Eleme, with elderly people, men, women, youths, children, and students of the school benefiting from the services.

Speaking at the medical outreach of the Command in Ebubu Eleme, Rear Admiral Istafanus Albara, Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, said the gesture was part of the Command’s corporate social responsibility to its host community.

He said the outreach was being held in all Commands of the Navy, adding that it afforded personnel of the Command the opportunity to offer free medical care and educational support to members of the community.

Albara disclosed that since its relocation to Rivers State in May 2024, the headquarters of the Command had awaited the opportunity to implement its corporate social responsibility for its host community through such activities as medical and educational outreach.

He said, “Today, the Naval Training Command will have the opportunity to offer free medical services, and the Naval Officers’ Wives Association of the Command has offered free educational materials to our good neighbours in Ebubu Eleme.”

He commended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his support to the Command, assuring that the Command will strive to contribute its quota to the peace and development of the State.

The special guest at the event, Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, commended the Navy for getting involved in socio-developmental activities in their host communities.

She said the ministry was delighted with the outreach because it aligns with the state government’s policy of health for all Rivers people.

She said, “Worth commending is the involvement of the Navy in social developmental activities within its localities; hence, the invitation to attend this outreach was very well received by the Rivers State Ministry of Health.”

“The State Government considers such gestures as very important because it is our resolve that essential healthcare reaches every single person in Rivers State, in alignment with Governor Fubara’s Health For All Rivers Strategy.”

While saluting the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the officers, and men of the Nigerian Navy for the initiative of bringing free healthcare services to the doorsteps of ordinary people, the health commissioner stated that the initiative is a testament to the fact that the military and corporate organizations have a critical role to play in their various host communities’ development through their commitment to rendering social and medical services to the people.

The Command’s Medical Training Officer, Captain Nzeribe Abango, assured that the Command is qualified and has medical personnel available to attend to the needs of the community people.

On his part, the paramount ruler of the Ebubu community, Chief Godwin Chinwi, lauded the Navy for the gesture, noting that it would boost the relationship between the community and the Command.