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Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Saturday kicked-off a 2-day free medical services for 3000 indigent residents of Gombe State, as part of effort at ensuring a cordial relationship between the NAF and residents.
The free medical outreach, which was an initiative of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, was to take care of various kinds of ailments.
The outreach, held in Akko LGA, Gona Emirate covers health education, counselling, dental screening, free eye tests and medicated glasses, screening for hypertension, basic laboratory screening and free drugs, which include anti-malaria, treated mosquito nets amongst others.
Abubakar, who was represented by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Special Operations Command (SOC), Air Vice Marshal Charles Ohwo, stated that the Nigerian Air Force continues to prioritise the provision of access to health care delivery and other humanitarian services to NAF host communities and internally displaced persons across the country.
โIt is in line with this vision that the Nigerian Air Force is giving back to the good people of Gombe State. It is aimed at enhancing good civil-military relations between the NAF and host communities.โ
He said over 3000 members of the community will benefit from the programme.
On his part, the Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, who was represented by the deputy Dr. Manassah Jatau, praised the initiative of the Medical Outreach in less than two months after the ground breaking ceremony of 203 combat reconnaissance Group (203 CRG) in the state, adding that it is evidence of remarkable strides the Nigerian Air Force has continued to make in touching the hearts and minds of their host communities across the country.
Also speaking, the beneficiaries of the outreach, Bello Hassan, Village Head of Jalingo โ Akko thanked the Air Force for the gesture, which he described as timely, considering the economic hardship following the COVID-19 pandemic.
