The Forward Operating Base (FOB), Escravos of the Nigerian Navy (NN) has provided free medical outreach to the Madangho Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Hundreds of the community residents comprising both youth and elders of both male and female folks benefited from the free health services that was held on Wednesday in the coastal community..

Recall that the FOB Escravos is under the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta.

Madangho, an Itsekiri enclave is among the five communities that made up Ugborodo Federated Communities in Warri South-West.

The medical exercise featured: free medical consultations, health education, free medication for common ailments, blood pressure and sugar checks as well as the distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets among others.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Navy Capt. Olayinka Aliu, the Commanding Officer of FOB Escravos said that the initiative was inline with the Operation Delta Sanity 111.

He added that the exercise was part of the effort of the FOB Escravos to reciprocate the good hospitality it had enjoyed over the years with the host community.

“As part of the effort of the NN to ensuring we have safe and clean environment devoid of crude oil theft.

“The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla.on July 10, 2024 launched the Operation Delta Sanity 111 with two front approaches, kinetic and non-kinetic

“The spirit of the non-kinetic approach of the Operation Delta Sanity is the reason the FOB Escravos is conducting a free medical Rhapsody to our host community.

“We have been enjoying good relationship with the Madangho Community, so, it beholds on us to also give back to them in our own little ways.

“We work tirelessly with youth of community to arrest perpetrators of crude oil theft. They have been very supportive,” he said.

The commanding officer said that those that required additional medical attention would be referred to the Naval Reference hospital in Warri.

Aliu also said that some of the free medical services included: Eye, Blood Pressure (BP), Sugar and Malaria check and treatment.

He therefore, urged the people to take advantage of the opportunity and conduct their medical examination.

The navy captain said that Surgeon, Optometrists Nurses and other medical experts from the Naval Reference hospital in Warri were on ground to attend to the people.

Responding on behalf of the community, Mr Solomon Uwawah thanked the FOB Escravos for the laudable gesture.

Uwawah who is the head of the community leaders in Madangho told newsmen on the sideline that there was no clinic in the community.

According to him, the only cottage hospital in the community was razed down during the 2003 crisis.

“This is a very laudable exercise and first of it’s kind in Madangho Community. There is no clinic in this community since the cottage hospital was burnt down,” he said.

Also, Mr Victor Laju, the National Vice Chairman of Ugborodo Community thanked the NN for the initiative.

Laju noted that initiative would further help to cement the already existing relationship between the FOB Escravos and the host community.

He, however, appealed to both the Federal and State governments to bring development to the Madangho Community, stressing that the cottage hospital that was razed had not been rebuilt.

“On behalf of the Madangho Community, I thank the NN. We have not experienced this king of gesture before now. It shows the love you have for our community.

“I am begging the federal government and calling on the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to look into Madangho situation and build the cottage hospital that was burnt down in 2003,” Laju said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Rita Oritsetuoyo, thanked the NN for the gesture and urged the IOCs and other organisations to emulate the NN.