By Emma Sunday
No fewer than 5000 residents of Obumoton-Chiri, Bie-Ama Community in Rivers State have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Eastern Naval Command, through the Naval Medical Centre, Borikiri and Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Port Harcourt, to commemorate the 2025 Naval week and the Navy 69th anniversary celebration.
The Navy, at the event tagged; medical and educational rhapsody also distributed free educational materials to students and children of the community located at the Borikiri axis of the Port Harcourt City local government area of Rivers State.
Among free medical services rendered to the community by the Naval Medical team during the event include; health awareness lectures, career talks and other services.
Others were; free medical consultation and treatment, free laboratory tests, dental check-ups, deworming of children, vaccinations and vitamin A administration, while free medical items and consumables like mosquito nets, toothbrushes and toothpastes were distributed to the over 5000 beneficiaries.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral, Saheed Akinwande, while speaking during the event on Tuesday May 27, 2025, said the gesture was part of the Navy’s Corporate Social Responsibility to it’s host communities, which is a key priority in the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral E. Ogalla, Admiralty Medal. which aims at sustaining partnership and catering for the welfare of the NN host communities.
Rear Admiral Akinwande, represented by the Commander, Naval Medical Center, Borikiri, Navy Captain Ugochukwu Elendu, said the medical and educational rhapsody organised by the Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy is also aimed at strengthening and improving civil-military relationship and sustaining partnership with the host communities.
He noted that the rhapsody underscores the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to quality health care and educational services offered in safe and secured environment.
According to him; “The Nigerian Navy has a tradition of regularly reaching out to host communities as part of measures towards enhanced Civil-Military-Cooperation.
“The NN commitment to her Corporate Social Responsibilities is a key priority in the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla which aims at sustaining partnership and catering for the welfare of the NN host communities,” he said.
Akinwande disclosed that the navy has outlined several activities to mark it’s 69th Anniversary, adding that they chose Obumoton-Chiri Community because of her peaceful co-existence and relevance to national development.
“This outreach is therefore organised as part of the celebrations and also to serve NN’s CSR objective. The Obumoton-Chiri community was chosen for this year’s Rhapsody because of her social and economic relevance to national development as well as her peaceful co-existence with the Nigerian Navy. The outreach is meant to provide free primary health care services and some selected secondary health care services to the wonderful people of this community and beyond,” he added.
The Naval Chief urged the community to take full advantage of the opportunity of the exercise, expressing hope that the medical and educational rhapsody would further strengthen the long-standing cordial relationship between the Nigerian Navy and the Borikiri community.
The Paramount Ruler of Bie-Ama Community, HRM, Garrick Achiesomie expressed delight at the kind gesture by the Navy, expressing the hope that it would further strengthen the relationship between them and the community.
The traditional ruler urged residents of the community to take advantage of the services to improve their healthcare and awareness.
“I will like to extend my deepest appreciation to the Navy for their commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of the Bie-Ama Community. Their service exemplifies the spirit of dedication, compassion and selflessness and it is a privilege to have them here with us.
“This initiative is not just about treating ailments, it is about empowering our community through health education, preventive care and ensuring that every individual have access to the healing resources they need.
“I encourage each of you to take full advantage of this services and foster a culture of health awareness amongst your families and friends,” the monarch stated.
The royal father urged the community to remain vigilante and work hand in hand in addressing safety concerns, support the Nigerian Navy and cultivate an environment where all residents feels secured.
Addressing newsmen, the Community Women Leader, Blessing Iyalla, who spoke through her secretary, Rachael Wosley, said the community had for a long time prayed for such an opportunity where women and children of the community can benefit from healthcare and educational items.
She commended the Navy for the gesture saying; “Things like this don’t normally happen these days in our society, where they come to empower our children, youths, mothers and the elderly, its so amazing, we are so grateful”.
One of the beneficiaries, and former youth leader of the community, Iyango Kurotamuno, said “As a community, we are happy for what Navy has done today, they have really impacted on the lives of our people, both the children, adults and the elderlies. We thank them and we want more of this to come.
“I also benefitted from the gesture because, my kids were given free exercise books and other educational materials.”
He pledged more collaboration from the community with Nigerian Navy and other security agencies for peace and security of the area.
