Health

The 17 Brigade of the Nigeria Army in Katsina has conducted a one-day medical outreach for residents of Katoge community in Katsina Local Government Area (LGA). Speaking during the exercise on Thursday, the Brigade’s Commander, Brig.-Gen. Babatunde Omopariola, said the outreach was an opportunity to engage with their immediate host community. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was part of activities for the 2025 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL). Related: Nigerian Navy Launches High-Tech Agricultural Initiative to Boost Food Security According to Omopariola, the aim was to foster goodwill and show the residents that the army is part of their community, just as they are part of the army. He explained that the health of the community was a major concern for the brigade, adding, “We try our best to assist in any way we can by providing healthcare for residents. “This community was chosen because of the limited income within the area; many residents may not be able to afford quality medical care like those in more robust communities. “So, it is essential that we support those with lower income so they can benefit more efficiently from this programme. “We prepared to attend to 500 to 700 people,” he said. Read Also: Ganduje Foundation Pledges Continued Support for Humanitarian and Religious Outreach Omopariola added that beneficiaries should view the gesture as an ongoing effort, though not a daily one. He further explained, “What we have done is provide an outreach for the community members and sensitise them. “We have also made arrangements with the community that if they have medical issues, they can visit our medical centre for primary healthcare services. “What we require from the community is the mutual trust that we expect from all Nigerians. “We want to increase our civil-military interaction and have their support in any way,” Omopariola said. He emphasised that host community support was essential for any military establishment or mutual operations. Capt. Kayinde Olakunle, the Acting Commanding Officer of the 17 Brigade Medical Centre, said beneficiaries would be treated for malaria, hypertension, diabetes, and provided with dental care. “This includes scaling and polishing, extractions and fillings for those with dental problems. “More severe cases will be given appointments at the medical centre or referred to teaching hospitals as necessary. “We will also treat malaria, typhoid fever, and respiratory tract infections. Severe cases will be referred for further care. “Children will be attended to, and insecticide-treated nets will be distributed to those under five years old,” Olakunle said. The village head of Katoge community, Alhaji Isiyaku Ado, said the outreach would greatly help alleviate the health challenges faced by residents. He commended Omopariola for the initiative and promised to continue supporting the officers and men of the brigade. (NAN)

A philanthropist in Katsina, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, has spent more than N80 million to sponsor urology surgery and treatment for vulnerable patients in the state. A board of trustees member of Mangal Foundation, Mr Husaini Kabir, said this in Katsina on Saturday, at the launch of this quarter’s exercise. Kabir said that since the commencement of exercise, no fewer than 3,000 vulnerable patients have benefited in about 10 exercises conducted previously. He explained that during this second quarter of the year, more than N20 million has been earmarked to sponsor the urology surgery for more than 100 patients. Read Also: Tinubu, Governors Join Ganduje to Receive Governor Eno into APC The board of trustees’ member added that those patients who do not require surgery, would be checked and provided with free drugs. Kabir noted that the gesture, which is part of their social corporate responsibility, aimed towards giving back to the society, especially the less privileged. According to him, people from different villages within the state, neighboring states and also from Niger Republic, are also benefiting from the gesture. Kabir said that their main objective was to alleviate the burden of healthcare costs on the most vulnerable people, as many of them struggle to meet basic needs. He stated that the screening for the outreach is ongoing at the Amadi Rimi Autopaedic hospital, in Batagarawa Local Government Area of the state. “The foundation has engaged the best medical team and procured high quality drugs and medical equipment for the surgery,” he said. Kabir added that the foundation is exclusively for empowerment, development, educational, charitable purposes and supporting the poor and vulnerable in the area of healthcare and economic skill. He further revealed that the foundation, initiated in 2016, had also sponsored eye, hernia, and hydrocele surgical operations for thousands of vulnerable patients. One of the beneficiaries, a staff of the state polytechnic, Malam Adamu Aliyu, commended the sponsor, saying that he has been looking for such an opportunity. According to him, his little salary can not afford him to go for the surgery, because the expenses are too much, praying to Almighty Allah to reward the sponsor. Other beneficiaries also commended the gesture, and called on the government, private organisations, and other wealthy individuals to also emulate.