NIGERIAN AIR FORCE COMMENCES 3-DAY SPECIAL SURGICAL INTERVENTION FOR IDPS IN BARKIN LADI.[PHOTOS].

          The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced a 3-day special surgical intervention programme as well as medical outreach for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other residents of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State. This is part of the NAF efforts at alleviating the plights of persons affected by the recent violence in the area. The special medical outreach, which is holding within the vicinity of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Hipan in Barkin Ladi, has been attracting a large turnout of IDPs as well as residents who expressed gratitude to the NAF for its humanitarian gesture and concern for the wellbeing of Nigerians. During the 3-day outreach, which is expected to end on 19 July 2018, patients with surgical needs would be operated on by NAF surgeons at the 563 NAF Hospital Jos while patients with other medical needs would be treated and given drugs as deemed necessary. Medicated glasses and treated mosquito nets would also be distributed during the exercise. A total of 3,000 patients are expected to benefit from this special intervention by the NAF medical team.

The first day of the medical outreach was attended by the Director of Health, Barkin Ladi LGA, Mr Badung Daylop, who represented the Executive Chairman of Barkin Ladi LGA, Honourable Dickson Chollom. The Chairman appreciated the laudable effort of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in rendering humanitarian services through the provision of free healthcare to the people of the LGA. He noted that the medical outreach would bring great relief to his people after the recent ordeals. During the first day of the medical outreach, the medical team from NAF Headquarters and 563 NAF Hospital, Jos conducted medical check-ups on the patients and screened those who potentially had surgical cases and thereafter immediately conveyed them to 563 NAF Hospital, where surgeries were carried out. Furthermore, eyeglasses and drugs were distributed to patients. Other medical activities carried out were de-worming of little children as well as distribution of treated mosquito nets.

It would be recalled that the NAF on 25 June 2018, deployed an Mi-35P combat helicopter and an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to Plateau State in support of efforts aimed at quelling the crisis that erupted in the State. The medical intervention is a follow-up to the earlier deployment as part of NAF’s efforts at enhancing civil-military relationship.

OLATOKUNBO ADESANYA

Air Vice Marshal

Director of Public Relations and Information    

Nigerian Air Force