120 rural dwellers get free medical care as NYSC takes healthcare to Amichi

More than 120 rural residents of Amichi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State have received free medical care courtesy of the National Youth Service Corps Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, as the scheme continues its quarterly push to extend quality healthcare to underserved communities across the state.

Corps medical personnel comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, and physiotherapists deployed to the community to provide a broad range of services including medical consultations, free drugs, malaria testing, blood pressure checks, blood sugar screenings, and maternal and child health assessments bringing specialist care to residents who would otherwise have to travel significant distances to access basic medical attention.

The NYSC Anambra State Coordinator, Mrs. Pauline Ojisua, has consistently emphasised the importance of the HIRD programme as a flagship intervention designed to close the healthcare gap between urban and rural areas. “The HIRD programme exemplifies the NYSC’s dedication to delivering accessible, quality healthcare to underserved populations. Through the tireless efforts of our corps medical personnel, this initiative provides not only free medical care but also health education and disease prevention outreach to rural communities,” she said.

The programme has tackled a range of common health challenges across the state, including malaria, hypertension, diabetes, and maternal and child health concerns. Beneficiaries in Amichi were also treated to health education sessions covering nutrition, hygiene, exercise, and preventive care — equipping residents with the knowledge to make better health decisions beyond the outreach day itself.

Amichi, a community in Nnewi South Local Government Area, is familiar territory for healthcare outreach efforts. The Providence Care Community Health Initiative has maintained a long-standing free clinic presence in the community since 2005, underscoring the chronic shortage of accessible medical facilities in the area and the heavy reliance on externally driven outreach programmes to meet residents’ basic health needs.

Community leaders and traditional rulers have consistently expressed deep appreciation for the HIRD initiative, noting that previous years of neglect had left many residents with little or no access to basic healthcare, and describing the sight of young Nigerian professionals offering their services as both impactful and inspiring.

The NYSC has called on private individuals, non-governmental organisations, and government agencies to partner with the scheme in scaling up the initiative, as it looks to expand the programme’s reach to more communities across Anambra State and beyond.