Fides Media Living the Faith
By Adejumke Alebiosu
The traditional ruler of Udege Mbeki Chiefdom in Nasarawa State, the Osu Ajiri, HRH Alhaji Dr. Halilu Bala Usman, has commended the contributions of Corps Members in healthcare delivery and education especially in the rural communities.
The Royal father gave this commendation while speaking at the ceremony held at Akum community, in Udege Development Area to flag off the second phase of 2021 NYSC Health Initiative For Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme in the state.
The monarch commended the healthcare initiative of the Scheme which takes free medical services to the doorsteps of indigent rural populace who would ordinarily not be able to afford such.
He expressed appreciation to the Director-General NYSC, Brigadier-General Shuaibu Ibrahim and the Director, Planning Research and Statistics of the NYSC, Alhaji Ahmed Wada Ikaka, both sons of Akum community, for bringing the laudable programme to their people.
He enjoined members of the community to take full advantage of the HIRD to resolve common illnesses affecting them.
The Osu Ajiri decried the security challenges in some parts of the state, including his area, which led to the withdrawal of Corps Members from the affected communities. He noted that the Corps Members apparently constituted the bulk of teachers in rural schools, and their withdrawal has led to the closure of schools, thus keeping children of school age at home, or sending them to the farms.
He added that the HIRD programme has given him a new appreciation of the invaluable contributions of Corps Members to national development especially in the area education in rural communities.
Speaking further, the Royal Father who said the security situation had improved, called on Federal Government to consider lifting the ban on posting of Corps Members to the area so that their children could return to school.
Also speaking at the event, the NYSC Director-General said the HIRD programme was part of the NYSC’s Community Development efforts. He added that other than providing health interventions to the rural areas, the Scheme would compile data on prevalent health challenges in the rural communities and forward them to the Government, to enable planning, towards mitigation.
The programme which was flagged off by the State Coordinator, NYSC Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Ahmad Jikamshi, provided medical services including de-worming of children, free medical consultation and dispensing of drugs. Others include; sensitisation on basic hygiene, prevention, control, and management of common illnesses among children, women and the aged.
More than three thousand members of the community including women and children benefited from the HIRD programme in the Akum community.