KAYODE ANIMASAUN
No fewer than 1,600 patients have benefited from the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, in Ondo state in 2023.
The Coordinator, NYSC Ondo State, Mrs Victoria Ani stated this at the opening of the NYSC two-day Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, HIRD, in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Mrs Ani revealed that the initiative, last year, reached more than 1,600 indigenous residents of Ondo State across all the three senatorial districts on quarterly basis.
She pledged that the scheme would try to achieve more than last year in terms of the number of beneficiaries of HIRD in 2024.
Mrs Ani described HIRD as an intervention of the NYSC management with the goal of mobilising volunteer corps medical personnel to the rural dwellers.
According to her, under normal circumstances, the rural dwellers will not be able to access medical attention as a result of neglect and remoteness of their locations.
In a remark, the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa in a message pledged to strengthen its partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and seek ways to expand its reach for more benefits for Ondo residents.
The governor commended the NYSC management for supporting the state through the provision of free health initiatives for residents over the years.
According to Governor Aiyedatiwa, the NYSC is reaching beyond its primary mandates, which are to practically impact the rural communities, who overall, constitute majority of the population of the nation.
Oba Frederick Aroloye, the Owa of Idanre, thanked NYSC and the Ondo State Government for the initiative and tasked community members to participate in the programme.
Aroloye, who was represented by Chief Lomofe Odeyemi, urged the community members to come out enmass for the free health programme, which he said was the first in the community.
Some beneficiaries and residents of Idanre, commended the scheme, which they said was the first in the community.
They revealed that the corps medical personnel conducted blood pressure, blood sugar tests, and others, which revealed their hypertensive status.