420 IDPs benefit from NAF medical intervention
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), said on Sunday that 420 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), benefited from its two days life saving medical intervention at three camps in Borno state.
NAF spokesman, Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, disclosed this in a statement, said that a comprehensive medical intervention programme was carried out in Dalori, Bama and Banki IDP camps by a team of NAF medical professionals deployed specifically for that purposed by the NAF Chief of Medical Services, Air Vice Marshal Saleh Shinkafi, on the directive of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
Thousands of IDPs were screened during the exercise and most of them treated and operated for various medical conditions.
According to the statement, 201 major operations to resolve varying medical challenges were carried out successfully.
In addition, a total of 82 eye surgeries were conducted comprising 77 cases of cataract, four cases of pterygium and one case of epilation. Sixty one cases of trachoma and seven cases of allergic conjunctivitis were treated.
A total of 26 patients were operated for herniorrhaphies, 15 for hydrocelectomies and five each for laparotomies and lipoma excision.
The patients with very severe conditions were airlifted to the Field Theatre by NAF helicopters and nobody lost his life throughout the exercise. The medical intervention programme was entirely carried out by NAF medical personnel at no cost to the IDPs.
The NAF had on 9 July 2017 commenced a surgical intervention scheme for IDP camps at Bama, Dalori and Banki, all in Borno State following the deplorable health conditions in the camps as a result of long periods of neglect and poor medical conditions in their living environment.
The surgical intervention scheme is complementary to other humanitarian intervention schemes being undertaken by the NAF to win the hearts and minds of the populace in the conflict areas.
Andrew Orolua, Abuja
