From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has conducted medical outreach and distribution of food items at internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps In Borno State to commemorate its 47th year anniversary.
Speaking on Saturday at the NYSC IDPs camp Maiduguri, the Borno state coordinator, Mr. Nura Umar, said the choice of IDPs camps was because they congregate a large number of the less privileged.
He said apart from the exercise commemorating the 47th anniversary of the NYSC, a decision was made to impact on the life of the IDPs and smoothen the hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that three different IDPs camps based on the recommendation of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA) would benefit from the exercise.
He said: “We are carrying out three-in-one programme, one of which is sensitisation on COVID-19 , where the IDPs are being sensitised on preventive measures, the second being distribution of palliatives, of which assorted food items are to be distributed to the IDPs and the medical outreach, where we are mobilising our corps medical team, consisting of four doctors, pharmacist and laboratory scientist for the treatment of the IDPs.
“First, the IDPs would meet the doctors, the doctors would make prescription, then if there is need for test, we have a mini-laboratory where they would do the test and the pharmacist dispenses the drugs.
“Basically, this is what we do to commemorate the 47th anniversary. Since the establishment of the NYSC, the scheme has been providing selfless services to the nation in different schemes, in both health, education, agriculture, infrastructure and provision of legal services to indigent persons in the society, without any remuneration.”
The Coordinator noted that the NYSC has been promoting national unity and integration which can not be over emphasised .
“The scheme has been doing so much and it is the most lasting scheme in the country. The Director General is doing a lot in bringing uncommon transformations to the scheme, hence NYSC is championing the fight against COVID-19.
One of the medical doctors on duty, Dr. Daniel Okeke, said the exercise has been wonderful, adding that the IDPs are turning out in their numbers for testing and treatment. He said most of them come with complaints of acute malaria of which treatment is given to them with administration of drugs.
Okeke said some patients who come with more severe ailments are usually referred to one of the government hospitals in the state for further medical attention.
One of the IDPs, Yagana Mustapha expressed appreciation to the NYSC for the medical outreach and other programmes they brought to the camp, saying that a lot of them who were sick before have received better treatment,in addition to the food items donated to them.
