The Nigerian Navy has promised to collaborate with its host communities in Cross River to ensure improved healthcare and sanitation.
Commodore Rotimi Oderemi, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Victory (NNS Victory), said this at a free medical outreach in Esuk Mba, Akpabuyo Local Government Area on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the residents of the community benefitted from treatment of malaria, dental challenges, eye tests, and sugar level screening during outreach.
Other services at the exercise included, donation of eye glasses, tooth pastes, tooth brushes, and insecticide treated nets.
Oderemi said that the collaboration had become expedient following the importance that the navy placed on health and sanitation.
He further said that good health and sanitation were critical to productivity, saying, “as humans, we must be healthy to remain functional”
The commander said that many rural community dwellers needed healthcare support because of poverty and lack of good medical facilities in their communities.
“This collaboration in healthcare and sanitation is our own way of giving back to the society.
“We have been supporting our host communities, we shall continue to support them. Their wellbeing is important to us.
“We understand the health challenges of the people in our host communities, especially the rural areas, this is the reason we should support them,” he said.
Oderemi urged residents of navy host communities to always take advantage of give-back projects to enhance their wellbeing.
Also speaking, Capt. Simon Ocholi, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar, said that ailments that could not be treated during the exercise would be referred to the naval hospital.
The Paramount Ruler of Akpabuyo, Etintin Francis Efa, commended the navy for the free medical outreach, describing it as a good omen
He urged the navy to play more active roles towards tackling the challenges of insecurity in the area.
“I am excited at this development, I urge the navy to conduct this type of exercises more regularly. It will help us a lot.
“There is no health facility within the community, it is always difficult when an urgent medical attention is needed,” he said.
Mr Bassey Effiong Bassey, the Member, representing Akpabuyo in the state House of Assembly, urged the Navy to extend their security support to the community.
“We appreciate your healthcare support to our people. We are asking for support in tackling the security challenges in the area.
“As we speak, our people can no longer undertake their traditional occupations because of fear. They are regularly attacked.
“The state government is trying its best to arrest the situation, we are appealing for more effort from the navy to stop this menace,” he said.