By Sulyman Pakoyi

The newly appointed Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has reiterated the Scheme’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerians, especially those in rural communities, have access to quality medical facilities.

The Director General, represented by the NYSC Ondo State Coordinator, Mrs Kuburat Omowumi Bakare, made this known during the 2025 first-quarter NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme held at Imafon community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Nafiu hinted that the NYSC introduced the HIRD programme with the aim of mobilising volunteer corps medical personnel to rural communities to provide adequate medical attention to rural dwellers, who may not have access to medical services due to neglect and the remoteness of their location.

He said his focus is to reposition the Scheme and place it at the forefront of addressing the numerous health challenges faced by citizens and residents of rural communities nationwide.

He charged community members to feel free to discuss any confidential health-related challenges with corps medical personnel attending to them during the exercise, while assuring them that the management of the Scheme had brought competent, tested, and experienced professionals to their doorstep.

Also, the State NYSC Governing Board Chairman, represented by the Director of Youth Development in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mrs Catherine Okukpe, disclosed that the quarterly programme was organised to promote the well-being of people at the grassroots through competent corps medical personnel, who provide standard and top-notch free medical services to citizens and residents of benefiting communities.

The Chairman said the Government of the Sunshine State, led by the Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency (Dr) Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, appreciated this gesture, which is seen as an extension of the government’s policy of healthcare for all and sundry.

“It is without doubt that the government, whether at the local, state, or federal level, may not have the ability to provide or achieve all its lofty programmes for the people simultaneously in view of the lean financial resources available. Hence, it is a pleasant relief when support or partnerships such as this are provided by the NYSC Scheme,” he said.

The Chairman pledged to strengthen the partnership with the NYSC Scheme and seek ways to expand its reach, enabling more people in the state to benefit from its provisions.

The Olumafon of Imafon Kingdom, His Royal Highness Oba Samuel Aliu Adegbehingbe, in his goodwill message, applauded the NYSC for bringing such a privilege to his kingdom.

The traditional ruler used the occasion to call on stakeholders to rally support for the NYSC so that the life-touching impact of the noble Scheme would be felt in all the nooks and crannies of the country.

Participants were screened and attended to, while drugs were freely given to those who presented their medical cases and history to the corps medical personnel.