Nigerians in rural communities should take advantage of the free medical outreach under the Health Initiative for Rural Dweller, HIRD, by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, to improve their health status.
Kwara State coordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Onifade Olaoluwa, made the call on Tuesday while flagging off the 2023 third phase of the programme at Tsaragi, Edu local government area of the state.
HIRD, the platform geared towards promotion of wellbeing of indigent persons at the grassroots by granting them easier access to free and quality healthcare was launched in 2014.
The programme is largely implemented through medical outreach communities across the country during which Corps Medical Volunteers carry out diagnosis; treatment, minor medical procedures, referrals of patients.
Drugs, eye glasses and other medical consumables are also given to patients free of charge.
Speaking at the occasion, Olaoluwa emphasized the determination of the NYSC to intensify efforts in making sure an average Nigerian have access to good medical care.
The NYSC boss disclosed that thousands of people had benefited from the HIRD in the state.
He further stressed that, apart from HIRD, corps members were also using different medium of Community Development Service, CDS, to make other health related interventions.
Such interventions, according to him, included “Health survey; medical outreach and sensitization; renovation of NYSC clinic at NYSC state secretariat to serve members of public for free on minor ailments; various campaigns against COVID-19, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD); HIV/AIDS Malaria Control; Poliomyelitis and other killer diseases.
He further affirmed that “…the health interventions of the scheme through the HIRD and other platforms have made enormous impact such as contribution to the improvement of reproductive health, reduction of maternal and infant mortality as well as maintenance and improvement of health infrastructure.”
