Personnel of the 6th Battalion, through its medical unit have held a medical outreach in Ibagwa, Akwa-Ibom State the battalion’s host community as part of their efforts to improve residents’ well-being and also enhance civilian/military relationship.
The battalion’s Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Ahmed Ibrahim Getso said the objective of the health enlightenment programme was to bring quality health care to the people and also to cement the existing cordial relationship between the host community and the military which has become part of the community.
Another objective of the outreach, according to Getso, is to provide medical tests so that people will be diagnosed of health cases and then seek early medical attention to avoid complications.
“The medical assistance to the host community has been on for some time now. The people come to the medical centre in the Barracks and our doctors diagnose them free. They are also given free and less-costly drugs. We have a drug revolving scheme which enables the community to get drugs at very cheap rate. This time, we decided to provide medical assistance for the wider community,” he said.
The outreach with the theme “Awareness of Some Killer Diseases in our Community,” consisted of two parts. While the first part was about lectures on some killer diseases, mode of contact, transmission and cure, the second part covered conducting series of medical tests and dispensing of drugs, mosquito nets and follow-up care. The outreach took place at the Annang People’s School, Ibagwa, opposite the battalion.
Military doctors, pharmacists and nurses lectured the people on hypertension, diabetes mellitus, HIV/AIDS, peptic ulcer, malaria, general health, education and family planning.
Doctors Martins, Julius and Ogunnaike handled lectures on hypertension and diabetes, HIV/AIDS and peptic ulcer while Pharmacist Aliyu Adam Abdullahi lectured the people on malaria. Warrant Officer Grace Eshiet and Chief Nursing Officer Ekaette Ekwere handled lectures on general health education and family planning, respectively.
The Coordinator of the medical outreach, Lt. Olayemi David Ilori advised the people to take the lectures and the screening seriously so as to be free from diseases. He revealed that contrary to most local beliefs, most deaths that occur in the communities are not caused by witches and wizards but by lack of proper medical information and access to Medicare.
Dr. Julius stressed the need for the people to seek proper and timely medical assistance whenever any health issues arise. He noted that most killer diseases could be avoided if detected early and treated on time.
Pharmacist Aliyu noted that the effects of malaria could be devastating, adding that from current statistics, three persons die every minute from the disease in Africa. He emphasised the need for the beneficiaries to keep their surroundings clean so as to avoid stagnant water where mosquitoes which cause the disease breed.
On how to know when they have come down on malarial attack, the Pharmacist said malaria symptoms include intermittent fever. Other symptoms are body pains, bitter taste in the mouth and severe headaches. He said it is particularly dangerous for pregnant women. He advised them to make adequate use of the mosquito nets provided for them, even as they were advised to register for ante-natal programmes in any good health care facility from two months of pregnancy.
He also urged them to stop buying drugs from chemists; rather, they should visit a health facility.
Dr Julius, who handled the lecture on HIV and AIDS revealed that available reports show that 3.1 per cent of Nigeria’s population is infected and that Nigeria now ranks second in Africa in terms of prevalence.
He disclosed that, contrary to local beliefs, the killer disease is not caused by witches or bad habit but by exchange of blood or other body fluids between an infected person and one that is not.
On how to avoid contacting the deadly virus, he advised them to stick to one sexual partner or make use of condoms and always insist that new or sterilised equipment are used before injections are administered on them.
“If by chance you get it, don’t be ashamed, see the doctor and he will guide you and you will live well. If you don’t, the virus will destroy your body defence system,” he said.
On hypertension, Dr Julius advised them on diet, regular exercise, better lifestyle and regular check-ups.
Dr Martins said there is no known cure for hepatitis which comes through the same manner as HIV. He advised the people to undergo medical tests frequently and adhere strictly to medical advice.
Dr Ogunnaike counselled them on the causes and cure of ulcer. He advised them against consumption of foods are capable of causing the disease; avoid smoking, alcohol consumption and self medication, among others.
The people were also reminded of the need to maintain high degree of personal hygiene.
The people were tested for hepatitis and others and drugs administered on them.
Reacting, 59-year-old Madam Margaret Edet said they were surprised at the tenderness shown by the military personnel to the people. She said sometimes some people die as a result of diseases that ordinarily would have been cured, blaming the situation on poverty.
“We are sick but we cannot help ourselves. Sometimes when we are sick, we only go with N50 to the chemist to buy whatever drugs that we can get. Most of us are old; some of us don’t have children,” she said.
She appealed to both President Muhammad Buhari and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom State to consider establishing hospital for the elderly in the localities. This, she said, will help preserve their lives.
Chief Friday Isaiah, a retired teacher and one of the beneficiaries said the community appreciates what the soldiers were doing for them.
“The military is known for fighting wars but here they are testing and fighting diseases in the bodies of the people of their host community. It is good because it is going to make the host community free from the killer diseases,” he said, adding that if the host community is sick, it may affect the soldiers also because they are now members of the same community.
