As part of its concerted efforts to combat armed bandits in Sokoto State, that state government has pledged to sustain the cordial relationship and cooperation with the Nigerian Air Force to continue to flush out bandits in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammad Ali made this pledge while flagging off NAF three days free medical outreach to victims of banditry in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the state.
The commissioner said the outreach was the second edition he would witness as Commissioner for Health in the state, where the NAF would bring its expertise and support to its various host communities.
According to him, “There is no better time than now to provide the medical support, considering the recent incidents that Sabon Birni LGA has witnessed. I believe that the medical outreach will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the people of the community.”
Dr Ali called on the people to take advantage of the free services being provided to meet their various healthcare needs.
Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daranola in a statement said the free medical outreach was part of its efforts to mitigate the hardships currently being experienced by Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Sabon Birni community due to the activities of armed bandits.
The medical outreach, he explained, was an initiative of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, which is intended to enhance good civil-military relations between the NAF and the local community for improved information sharing.
“During the three days of the outreach, the NAF Medical team will undertake health education talks; free consultations and dispensing of medications; de-worming and immunization of children; distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets as well as visual acuity checks and provision of prescription eye glasses. Aside the healthcare services, some palliatives including food items, soaps, blankets and footwear were also distributed to assuage the sufferings of the IDPs,” the statement said.
The Director of Public Health and Humanitarian Services, NAF, and leader of the medical team, Group Captain Ali Tanko said the outreach was the initiative of the air chief, who was moved by the plight of the displaced persons in the Local Government and promptly directed the Team to take swift action to provide them succour.
The District Head of Sabon Birni, Alhaji Isa Muhammadu Bawa expressed profound appreciation to the NAF for the humanitarian gesture, describing the gesture as timely as it would further assuage the hardships of the people.
