The National Youth Service Corps in Jigawa State has provided free medical services to 757 patients during a one-day Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers held at the Chamo Primary Health Care Centre in Dutse, the state capital.
The outreach, organised by the scheme’s Community Development Service, targeted vulnerable groups including pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants and the elderly, who turned out in large numbers for diagnosis, treatment and free medication.
Speaking at the inauguration on Wednesday, the NYSC State Coordinator, Bala Muhammad, described the exercise as “a practical demonstration of the NYSC’s mandate to impact rural communities.”
He called for stronger partnerships among government, health institutions and corps members to sustain similar interventions, commending the participating doctors for their commitment.
“Their dedication shows youth service remains a vital tool for national development,” he said, noting that NYSC medical corps members led the team, treating illnesses ranging from malaria to hypertension.
Muhammad added that the programme also featured health education sessions aimed at promoting preventive care and hygiene practices.
“The free drugs were made possible by contributions from Ringim General Hospital, Prof. Isa Chamo, Commissioner for Higher Education, Engr. Nura, Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, and Muttaka Namadi, Commissioner for Agriculture,” he said.
In his remarks, the District Head of Chamo, represented by his secretary, Aminu Ibrahim, welcomed the initiative, noting that residents rarely access such services without travelling long distances.
“Our people rarely access this level of care without traveling far,” he said, appreciating the NYSC and other contributors for the intervention.
The Head of the health facility, Rabi’u Ali, said the turnout underscored the need for regular outreach programmes.
“The turnout proves the need for regular outreaches in rural facilities like ours,” he said, adding that the support received improved service delivery at the centre.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Chamo Ward Development Association, Adamu Idris, described the outreach as impactful and called for its replication across other communities.
“This is the kind of direct impact our ward needs,” he said, urging government and private donors to support similar initiatives in other parts of the state.
