The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has embarked on a 3-day special medical and surgical outreach at Kuta Community in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State. The medical outreach, which commenced today, 3 February 2020, is aimed at ameliorating the hardship currently being experienced by the people as a result of bandits’ attacks. The medical outreach, which is an initiative of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, is led by the Director of Public Health and Humanitarian Services, NAF, Group Captain Ali Tanko. For the 3 days, the NAF Medical Team will offer free medical services such as general medical check-ups, surgeries, dental services as well as treatment of malaria. Other medical services that would be offered during the exercise include free visual acuity checks and provision of prescription eyeglasses, deworming of children, distribution of treated mosquito nets and counseling.

Flagging off the medical outreach, the Guest of Honour, the Executive Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Security Matters, Brigadier General Ndagulu Imam (retired), thanked the CAS and the entire NAF for the continued contributions towards the restoration of normalcy in the affected communities as well as their concern for the welfare and healthcare needs of the Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) in the area. The Representative of the Governor added that the NAF, through the Commander 013 Quick Response Force (QRF) Minna, had greatly helped to improve the security situation in the area, while noting that the response time of NAF troops to distress calls was quite commendable. He further stated that the people as well as the leadership of Niger State appreciate the CAS for the kind gesture and urged the people of Kuta community to embrace the opportunity in order to derive maximum benefits from the outreach.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of Shiroro LGA, Honourable Suleiman Dauba Chikuba, who was also full of appreciation for the NAF’s gesture, noted that the outreach had renewed the hope of his people for a better tomorrow. The people of Kuta Community, who trooped out in large numbers for the exercise, also individually expressed their gratitude to the NAF for the free medical services.

The flag-off ceremony was witnessed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Niger State, Dr Joseph Kolo; the District Head of Kuta, Alhaji Garba Bangajiya, represented by Alhaji Saidu Galadima as well as the Special Adviser on Rural Development, Niger State, Hajiya Hadiza Kuta, amongst other dignitaries.