The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says prospective youth corps members will henceforth undergo fitness tests at their various orientation camps to avail the scheme of credible information on their health status.

The NYSC spokesperson, Eddy Megwa, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the new directive would take effect from the 2022 Batch ‘C’ orientation course scheduled to begin across the country on Wednesday.

He said the decision to begin the test was also to protect corps members from exploitation.

“In view of the regimentation and physical demands of some activities of the NYSC orientation programme, the management of the scheme introduced the presentation of a Certificate of Fitness from recognised public health facilities for registration at the orientation camp.

“The essence is to enable camp officials to manage those who are not fit to undertake certain activities in the camp.

“This has been largely misunderstood, leading to extortion of some prospective youth corps members by fraudulent individuals in their bid to secure such documents, some of which may not stand a test of integrity.”

Mr Megwa added that the NYSC orientation camp clinics across the nation are managed by the National Health Insurance Authority, with the supervision of consultants from tertiary health institutions. 

(NAN)