Army offers free medical services to IDPS in Borno

The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army Maiduguri, is offering free medical services to the internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno state.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Major General Lamidi Adeosun while inspecting the free medical services in Konduga said the exercise is to assist the IDPs who were displaced from their comnunities by the insurgents.

He said the free medical service to the IDPs was in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s directives that the medical team of the Nigerian Army should first handle medical assistances to the IDPs, adding the medical services is not only limited to Konduga because very soon it will be extended to Bama, Pulka, Gwoza and other liberated communities.

“We are here to offer free medical services to villagers who were displaced not only in Maiduguri, the state capital but to other liberated communities to encourage them come back to their communities , so that they can pick up the pieces of their lives,” the GOC stated.

He said the IDPs needs medical attention, as they were coming out from bushes, pointing out that some of them have malaria, skin diseases and most of the children were malnourished.

The GOC said other IDPs who have severe cases and cannot be treated on the spot will be referred to the Sate's Specialist Hospital or University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, adding that the exercise will last for three days.

Answering questions from the press, Brigadier General Ikechukwu Okeke the Commander incharge of Medical services explained that the exercise is an emergency treatment but those with severe cases will be referred to hospitals in Maiduguri, as there were no hospitals in the liberated communities, where the IDPs will be given medical services.

He said they have so far treated over 750 IDPs and are expected to cover over 1,500 IDPs within the 3 days of the exercise, noting that absence of medical care will only compound problems of the IDPs.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Malam Usman Bukar said most of the IDPs are suffering from one ailment or the other, as they trek for long distance through the bushes and thanked the military for their kind gesture, as none of them have money to treat themselves, because according to him, the insurgents carted away all their property including their animals.

He said 10 villages around Konduga were invaded but with the assistance of the civilian JTF and the military they were able to flee to Konduga.

The villages recently displaced by insurgents includes Fadamari, Buladoye, Kachallari, Jiddori, Shettimari, Kaleri among others.