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The Nigerian Army has assured of its continued determination to change the perception of the public about the military.
General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major General Lasisi Adegboye, gave the indication on Friday at Orba in Udenu local government area while addressing the community during a medical outreach organized by the division.
The medical outreach in Orhom-Orba, hometown of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State is one of the series of social responsibility initiatives introduced by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, to strengthen civil-military cooperation in the country.
Members of the community including the aged men and women, children as well as pregnant women trooped out in numbers in anticipation of the free medical outreach.
Addressing the people, General Officer Commanding, 82 Division of The Nigerian Army, Major General Adegboye who inspected various stands mounted by the medical team, said that the free medical outreach was part of the ongoing “exercise atilogwu udo 1’’.
Adegboye noted that the exercise was meant to strengthen existing civil-military relationship, adding that the humanitarian effort was ongoing in all 82 division area of responsibility within the south-east states.
“the exercise is meant to improve the long standing civil-military relations between the army and its civil populace as well as promote civil-military-cooperation (CIMIC).
“the exercise is also in line with the chief of army staff vision to cater for the welfare of the host community and win the hearts and minds of the civil populace,’’ he said.
Responding, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Everestus Onah commended the Nigerian army for the kind gesture and prayed for divine protection for the army in carrying out its constitutional mandate of protecting the country from external aggression.
“we are grateful for the army bringing good health, free medication and medical experts to counsel us one-on-one,’’ Onah said.
a beneficiary of the free medical outreach Ignatius Nwodo expressed surprise to see the Nigerian Army providing humanitarian services in the community.
Nwodo, who got a free pair of eye glass, said that his impression of the army as a very strict force had changed.
Another beneficiary of the exercise, Agbodike Celestina thanked the army for the free drugs on malaria, cough and pneumonia given to her and her two kids.
No fewer than 802 residents of the community received the free medication and health counselling from the Nigerian Army.
The free medical service extended to the community included: free medical tests, distribution of over 300 free pair of eye glasses, free malaria and HIV/AIDS tests, as well as distribution of free insecticide treated nets, physiotherapy massage, de-worming of children, dental care and distribution of free drugs.
