The quiet and sleepy town of Kpite, in Tai Local Government Area Council of Rivers State, came alive as the 6 Division Nigerian Army medical outreach team drove into the community. The mission of the team was to conduct medical outreach and donate Medical Equipment as part of activities lined up to commemorate the 2023 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).
In a statement, Lieutenant Colonel Iweha Ikedichi, the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 6 Division Nigerian Army said, unknown to many, 6 Division Nigerian Army had undertaken a quiet reconnaissance across the Local Government Area Council and discovered an almost abandoned primary health care center in Kpite community. On further inquiries, the lack of basic health care facilities and basic drugs was staggering. The primary health care center could, at best, be said to be empty despite having an imposing structure.
The medical outreach team was robust; records, vital signs, consulting, laboratory, pharmacy, and optometrics departments. All manned adequately with drugs, eye glasses of different prescriptions, and reagents for laboratory investigation. Special counseling sessions for HIV and Hipertitis, as well as family planning, were equally on hand.
The first point of call was the palace of His Royal Majesty, Sir King Samuel LA Nnee JP, the Gberemene of Tai Kingdom. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force (South South) Operation Delta Safe, Major General Jamal Abdussalam thanked the royal father for his support over the years to the military in the conduct of operations.The GOC who was represented by the Commander 6 Division Garrison, Brigadier General Eddy Effiong sought for continuous support of the Tai kingdom and by extension the Ogooni nation.
In his response, the Gberemene Tai Kingdom thanked the Division for choosing his community as the venue for the medical outreach program. He expressed appreciation for the role of the military in bringing about peace in the community. He particularly eulogized the sacrificial nature of military service and pledged the community’s support.
In his opening remarks at the medical outreach, the GOC appreciated the good people of Kpite for their collaboration over the years. He called for continuous synergy and cooperation of the people.
In the spirit of NADCEL 2023 and in appreciation to the people, the GOC made donations of 2 oxygen cylinders and accessories, Nebulizer, Pulse oximeter and Biochemistry analyzers. He expressed the hope that the equipment would be put to good use and asked for feedback on the performance of the equipment.
In her response, the chief nursing officer, Mrs Muele Nwana, expressed appreciation for the donation of the equipment to the primary health care center. She stated that with the donation, the center is in a better state to better respond to the medical needs of the community.
Highpoint of the event was the free medical outreach that featured counseling on family planning and voluntary testing for HIV, free consultation and dispensary of drugs, and reading eyeglasses.
