The 2014 President's NYSC Honours Awardee Visit to Wassa IDP Camp

The 2014 President's NYSC Honours Awardees conducted a free medical outreach to Wassa IDP camp, FCT- Abuja today Saturday the 29th day of August 2015, serving corps members-Medical & Health CDS group were in attendance. The Program was well-intentioned and conducted successfully. Programs like this outreach are not new to us as ex corps members because the NYSC Community Development Service (CDS) afforded us the opportunity to apply our cognitive skills, learning and resources to the betterment of our host communities, this has been the bedrock of our achievements. The program was scheduled & carried out as follows:-

We arrived Bassa IDP Camp at about 0900hrs, the colonies were mobilised and triaged, preference was given to Pregnant women and nursing mothers, focused ante-natal service was offered including routine antenatal laboratory investigations, counselling on care in pregnancy, safe/supervised delivery and lactation/infant care. Point of care diagnostic investigations like Rapid Malaria test and HIV screening was also offered with subsequent dispensing of prescribed medications at the Pharmacy point at absolutely no cost for the IDPs.
Those with eye problems were sent to the Optometry unit for eye examination, those diagnosed with errors were given corrective lenses. Children on the other hand who are a vulnerable group were engaged in a fun-filled social interaction to enhance their social well being, there after they were taught simple self and environmental hygiene, they were also offered free books and writing materials. Others with peculiar needs as per diagnostic and laboratory findings were placed on treatment and had their drugs dispensed.
Relief items such as mosquito nets, cartons of Noodles, bags of rice, bags of sugar, bags of garri and wheat among others, were also donated to them.

Lastly, a mini clinic was set up for them which is to be manned by the community health extension worker domiciled in the community. The program ended at about 1500hrs.
Our esteemed collaborators and supporters for the program were; NYSC FCT, Society for Family Health, Book my School, FEMA, NEMA and the media viz; ITV, Radio Nigeria, Raypower & Luv Fm.
We deeply appreciate our collaborating agencies and all those who worked towards the success of the event. We are personally moved by the plight of the IDPs and going by our motto 'we care', we call on other well meaning Nigerians both in the public and private sectors to share in our foresight 'we care' and come together to assist this vulnerable portion of the society, they deserve our collective inputs in improving their living conditions and ultimately resettling and integrating them back to their communities.

By:- Ibrahim Yusuf Bakoji
2014 President's NYSC Honours Awardee
Documentary
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