The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Faruk Yahaya, on Thursday inaugurated a Model Health Centre constructed by the Army at Gadan Gayan, Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
The construction of the center known as Jallo and Hauwa Primary Health Care Clinic was facilitated by Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Jallo under the Nigerian Army Civil Military Project.
The COAS, represented by the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, the Nigerian Army would continue to reciprocate the high level of cooperation and goodwill it enjoys from Nigerian citizens.
The COAS noted that the Nigerian Army embarked on the elaborate quick-impact project to support the healthcare needs of the people of Gadan Gayan and other part of the country in order to strengthen the existing good relationship between the people and the Nigerian Army.
He revealed that the gesture has over time significantly contributed to the NA’s successes in containing the multifaceted security challenges facing the nation, particularly through the non-kinetic approach.
Yahaya hailed the contributions of the people of Kaduna state to the military, just as they “have contributed immensely to the development of not only the Nigerian Army but the nation at large”.
He explained that the Nigerian Army had taken deliberate steps to give back to the society, because of the cooperation it enjoys from them.
“This is very much in line with my vision which is to have `A Professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria’.
“In pursuance of this vision, I have ensured that we pay very close attention to the non-kinetic aspects of our operations.
“We want to ensure that our senior officers are connected to their communities in order to enhance Civil-Military Cooperation, as well as winning their hearts in supporting our operations.
“This crave for cordial relationship necessitated the construction of this project being inaugurated today,” the COAS said.
“I believe this project will serve the collective needs of the members of this community and the immediate environs.
“I appeal to the community to see the project as a symbol of friendship between the Nigerian Army and the community; let it foster the desired peace, progress, and indeed bring prosperity to the community as well.”
The COAS informed the community that the Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies are working assiduously to rid the country of criminal elements.
He assured President Bola Tinubu of the unalloyed loyalty of the Nigerian Army and its unrelenting commitment to the execution of its constitutional mandate in synergy with other security agencies.
Earlier, Jallo explained that he initiated the project to cater for the growing population of the community and curb infant and maternal mortality.
"Today's occasion is a very special day for us here in Gadan Gayan and Igabi Local Government in particular. This is because for the first time after a long time, the Nigerian Army's presence is being felt in this community and the neighboring communities.
"This project is the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention as a quick impact project to host communities in order to build confidence between the civil populace and the Nigerian Military.
"And as an indigene of this Local government, this project is very important to the whole local government because the community has a large number of population and when you look at the topography, Rigachikun is more developed than this area.
"So we chose Gadan Gayan because it is central to other surrounding villages like Turunku, Igabi and the rest.
"Over the years, we have noticed the high rate of infant mortality and maternity rate in the LGA and the access to primary health care is not available in this area. We have been doing primary health care outreach in this area and we discovered that about 30 to 40 percent of the people are trooping to Rigachikum to access primary health care.
"I decided to name this project after my parents to honor their memory and I know that if they were to be alive today, they would be the happiest people to see us commission this project in their honor,"he said.
He appreciated the COAS for approving the execution of the project.
In his remarks, the local council Chairman, Malam Jabir Khamis thanked the Army for the intervention and pledged that the council would provide more primary healthcare facilities for the people.
The event was attended by Commanders of Army formations in Kaduna state, and a representative of Emir of Zazzau, among others.
