Army offers free medical treatment to 500 in Idemili North LG

The 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support), Onitsha on Saturday offered free medical treatment to more than 500 persons in Umuoji, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra.

Col. Idongiset Akpan, the Commander of the Regiment, said the service and an earlier clean up exercise were some of the activities lined up for the week long 2017 Nigerian Army Day celebration.

Akpan said the free treatment and cleanup exercise near Electrical International Market, Onitsha, were to maintain the excellent civil/military relationship and to imbibe the culture of clean environment.

“It was also an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the Nigerian Army, and also launder our image as a potent force for the defense of our democracy and nation building,” he said.

He explained that the Army Day celebration was a yearly exercise to commemorate the creation of the Nigerian Army.

Also speaking, Capt. Wilson Ejiga, the Regimental Medical Officer in-charge of the Cantonment Hospital, said cases of malaria, typhoid and other minor ailments were treated.

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“We conducted HIV counseling and testing and a number of investigation including, random blood sugar, urine text and any case that is beyond us were referred with a provision to take care the patient in the hospital,” he said.

Mrs Njideka Oraedum, the Senior Special Adviser to Gov. Willie Obiano on Environment, Climate Change and Beautification, commended the Army on the gesture.

Oraedun assured that the state government will provide more receptacles in the area to ensure that people do not drop their wastes indiscriminately.