Hardship: 200 residents of Enugu benefit from NAFOWA medical outreach

By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu

No fewer than 200 residents of Abakpa community within Enugu metropolis have benefited from Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA) medical outreach.

The medical outreach included: health education/counselling, consultations and treatment of medical conditions, dental and eye checks, de-worming of children, free drugs and distribution of insecticide treated nets to vulnerable groups (pregnant/nursing mothers, children and elderly).

Flagging-off the medical outreach in Abakpa on Saturday, the National President of Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA), Rakiya Abubakar, said the medical outreach was aimed at ameliorating hardship experienced by the people in accessing healthcare.

“The medical outreach, which is an initiative of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, is an event that is conducted to deepen the existing civil-military relations between the Nigerian Air Force and the host communities.

“It is to further foster good working relationships between the personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and the residents of Abakpa community of Enugu State and its environ.

“All complicated medical or surgical cases will be referred appropriately after the outreach and I therefore enjoin you all to make yourselves and families available to benefit maximally from this medical outreach,” she said.

Earlier, Air Commodore Shehu Chindo, Commander 553 Base Services Group, Nigerian Air Force, Enugu, said that “it is not just kinetic action that brings peace, but by non-kinetic and humanitarian efforts lasting peace and friendship are enshrined”.

Chindo, who is also the Chairman of the Civil-Military Relations Committee, noted that NAFOWA had been in the fore-front of humanitarian services such as medical, education and amenities provision in communities across the country.

One of the beneficiaries, Pa Desmond Ufudu, appreciated NAFOWA for the free insecticide treated net, free malaria drugs and counseling on his diet to be less carbohydrate.

In a related development, NAFOWA empowered 53 graduates of its Skill Acquisition Centre in Enugu with certificates and starter packs of dehydrators and ovens.

The graduates were also empowered with other materials to kick-start snail farming, exotic vegetable farming and mushroom farming, which the students majored in.

Aminat Abdullahi, Chairperson of NAFOWA Ground Training Command, Enugu Chapter, encouraged the graduates to put all they learnt to practice and ensure they use the gains of their skills to uplift their families and support their husbands.

“I want to appreciate the National President of NAFOWA for the initiative and support as well as my husband, AVM Usman Abdullahi, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), NAF Ground Training Command, Enugu, encouragement during the empowerment programme,” Abdullahi said

The National President of NAFOWA, Rakiya Abubakar, said that the empowerment was in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to empower all Nigerian women and make them resourceful to their families.

“I want to thank my husband, the Chief of the Air Staff, for his support. I congratulate our barrack women for taking advantage of the training in their large numbers,” Abubakar said.