Over 1,000 persons on Thursday, benefitted from the free medical outreach organised by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) for residents of the Kurudu community, a suburb of the area council.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the free medical services offered include malaria, typhoid, high blood pressure testing, eye screening, COVID-19 vaccination, HIV testing and counseling, family planning services, among others.
Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman, AMAC, said the medical outreach was part of the dividends of democracy he promised AMAC residents during his campaigns.
Maikalangu, who was represented by Mr Nasiru Usman, Vice-Chairman, AMAC, said that his administration was committed to tackling health care challenges faced by the aged and less privileged persons in the society.
“As part of my administration’s basic health care delivery, we decided to hold this outreach in response to widespread negligence and poor attitude of the citizens towards voluntary testing and treatment of common diseases, until they are caught unawares.
“In addition, many people are out there with several medical needs as well as unknown and underlying health challenges.
“It is the desire of our administration to use this forum to also enlighten and awaken the consciousness of the public to adopt the principles of preventive health checks, which will in turn save lives and costs,” he said.
He also called on civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, as well as good spirited persons to assist the area council by replicating the gesture in other communities in the council.
Also speaking, Dr Isa Vatsa, Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board, said that primary healthcare services remained an integral part of national development, which cannot be overlooked.
He called on other area councils to emulate AMAC as it attempts to reach the hard-to-reach members of the society.
Similarly, Mr Ezra Gomna, District Head of Kurudu community, appreciated the chairman for the medical intervention, adding that it was the first of its kind.
Mr Abdulhakeem Abdulkareem, a representative from the World Health Organisation (WHO), commended the chairman for bringing healthcare to those at the grassroots.