The newly appointed Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu has reiterated the commitment of the Scheme at ensuring that Nigerians, especially those living in rural communities access qualitative medical facilities.
The Director General made this known in his address read during the 2025 first quarter NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme held at Imafon community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Nafiu hinted that NYSC decided to bring out the HIRD programme with the aim of mobilising volunteer Corps Medical Personnel to rural communities to give adequate medical attention to rural dwellers, who ordinarily may not have access to such as a result of neglect and remoteness of their location.
The one star General said that his focus was to reposition the Scheme and make it be at the forefront of addressing the numerous hazard occasioned by health challenges and inadequacies faced by citizens and residents of rural communities nationwide.
"I, therefore beseech the community dwellers and its environs to seize the opportunity of this programme to improve their health status, as this will lead to drastic reduction in the cases of untimely deaths among you. This will equally enhance the health care of the beneficiaries".
Continuing, the foremost corps member nationwide, charged them to feel free to discuss any of their confidential health related challenges with corps medical personnel that will be attending to them in the course of the exercise, while assuring them that the management of the Scheme has brought competent, tested and experienced professionals to their doorstep.
The Director General who was represented by the NYSC Ondo State Coordinator, Mrs. Kuburat Omowumi Bakare appreciated all those behind the success of the event, saying that their unwavering support and commitment in diverse ways have continued to sustain the programme over the years.
The State NYSC Governing Board Chairman who was represented by the Director, Youth Development in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mrs. Catherine Okukpe disclosed that the quarterly programme is organised to promote the well-being of people at the grassroots by competent corps medical personnel who give standards and topnotch free medical services to citizens and residents of benefitting communities.
The Chairman said that the Government of the Sunshine State, led by the Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency (Dr.) Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa was appreciative of this gesture which is seen as an extension of the government policy of healthcare for all and sundry.
"It is without doubt that the government, whether at the Local, State or Federal level may not have the ability to provide or achieve all its lofty programmes for the people simultaneously in view of the lean financial resources available, hence it is a pleasant relief, when support or partnerships such as this is being provided by the NYSC Scheme" he said.
The Chairman pledged to strengthen the partnership with the NYSC Scheme and seek ways to expand its reach and enable more people of the state to benefit from its provision.
"We also ask that you do not hesitate to knock on our doors in any area you need the intervention of the Ondo State Government as may be required to further deepen the objectives of this programme" he stated.
The arrowhead of the apex policy maker for the Scheme in Ondo State pledged the support of the State Government and their readiness to provide all necessary collaboration to ensure that the initiative does not become a thing of the past.
The Olumafon of Imafon Kingdom, His Royal Highness Oba Samuel Aliu Adegbehingbe in his goodwill message applauded NYSC for bringing such privilege to his Kingdom.
The traditional ruler used the occasion to call on stakeholders to rally support for the NYSC so that life-touching impact of the noble Scheme will be felt in all the nooks and crannies of the country..
Highlights of the programme was the health talk which touched on key areas of medical and health challenges such as Hypertension, Blood Pressure, Diabetes and maintainance of clean environment.
Participants were screened and attended to while drugs were freely given to those who presented their medical cases and history to the corps medical personnel.
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