The Forward Operating Base (FOB), Escravos of the Nigerian Navy, has provided free medical services to Aruton and Oporoza communities in Warri South-West Local Government of Delta.

No fewer than 1,700 residents of the two coastal communities on Wednesday benefited from the free medical outreach.

Aruton is an Itsekiri enclave while Oporoza is an Ijaw community and both host the FOB, Escravos.

Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, the Commanding Officer, FOB, Escravos, said the initiative was to further strengthen the existing relationship between the Nigerian Navy and the host communities.

According to Mr Okoloagu , the medical outreach was a non kinetic approach of the Nigerian Navy aimed at winning the attention of the host communities.

“It involves the provision of free medical consultations, sugar check, blood pressure, health education, free medical treatment for common ailments and distribution of insecticides and treated mosquito nets, among others to the people,” he said.

Mr Okoloagu said that Aruton and Oporoza communities were carefully selected in recognition of the contributions of the Ijaws and Itsekiris to the operational successes of the FOB, Escravos.

He hoped that the medical outreach would further endeared the Nigerian Navy to the populace and by implications improved the existing cooperation between the host communities and FOB, Escravos.

“It is expected that the improved cooperation will be crucial in attaining the dictates of the Strategic Directives of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla to stem illegalities in the maritime environment,” he said.

Daniel Uwawah, the Olaraja of Ugborodoland while speaking at Aruton, thanked the Nigerian Navy for the gesture and urged his subjects to always have a good relationship with the navy.

“We are very happy with the Nigerian Navy. They are very good to us and I want them to always come around,” he said.

Also speaking, Wuruyai Maxwell, the public relations officer, Gbaramatu Youth Council, thanked the Nigerian Navy and prayed God to continue to bless the navy.

Speaking at Oporoza, Mr Maxwell said that this was the first time the Nigerian Navy was conducting such a laudable exercise in Oporoza and urged them to keep it up.

“What I know the Navy for is that they protect life and property. I never knew that this kind of gesture can come from them.

“By extending medical outreach to host communities at a time many households are finding it difficult to cater for their medicare is quite encouraging,” he said.

Mr Maxwell urged the people of Oporoza community to reciprocate the noble gesture by cooperating with the Nigerian Navy.

One of the beneficiaries, Ezekiel Mercy, who was diagnosed and given a medicated eye glass, thanked the Nigerian Navy for the assistance because she had been with complications in the past four years.

(NAN)