Nigerian troops

The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu on Thursday began a medical outreach to test the citizens of its operational area for lifestyle diseases. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise was inaugurated in Abakpa Nike, Enugu with hundreds of residents queuing to be tested.

The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the division, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Atahiru, said the outreach was organised to bring the division closer to the people. Atahiru said that the diseases tested for included diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure and others. He said that the exercise was a directive from the army headquarters, adding that it would be conducted monthly in different areas of the division.

The GOC said that the exercise was part of the civic responsibilities of the army and that the division would conduct it in various parts of the South East and South South geo-political zones.
He also said that the division had constructed boreholes in some communities as part of its civic responsibilities.

Responding, the traditional ruler of Abakpa Nike, Igwe Julius Nnaji, said that the exercise would bring the army closer to the people. Nnaji said that his community would continue to collaborate with the division for the development of the area.

A member of the community, Mrs Ngozi Ugwu, said the outreach was useful because people who tested positive to any of the diseases were given appointments in the army hospital for treatment.
NAN reports that both Igwe Nnaji and Atahiru were tested for blood pressure.