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Nigerian Army Offers Medical Assistance to Belegete Community on Nigeria-Cameroon Border

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 20th, 2024.

Nigerian Army Offers Medical Assistance to Belegete Community on Nigeria-Cameroon Border

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Army provided free medical services to Belegete, a border community with Cameroon, situated in the Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State.

This initiative, reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is part of the army’s broader strategy to engage with and support local communities beyond traditional military operations.

During the outreach, residents received various medical services, including consultations, testing for malaria, typhoid, blood sugar, and blood pressure, and the distribution of medications.

Belegete, known for its challenging terrain and lack of basic infrastructure such as roads, telecommunication, and electricity, was the focus of this outreach. Brigadier General Muftau Ibrahim, Commander of the 13 Brigade in Calabar, explained that the event aimed to provide essential medical services to the isolated community.

General Ibrahim noted that the outreach also served to assure border communities of the army’s commitment to curbing rebel activities along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The 13 Brigade has been active in operations designed to prevent incursions and has effectively contained threats from Ambazonian rebels despite the difficult geography.

Community leader Simon Akor highlighted the severe challenges faced by Belegete residents due to the lack of medical facilities. He recounted instances where pregnant women and other critically ill individuals died while being transported to distant health centers. Akor expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for their support and appealed to the government for improved infrastructure, including roads, telecommunication, and local health services.

Maria Olia, the community’s Women Leader, emphasized the limitations faced by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in handling complications without proper facilities. She noted that children often rely on herbal remedies due to the absence of accessible healthcare.

Youth representative Aku Collins mentioned the community’s previous dependence on unqualified medicine dealers. He expressed relief at the professional medical assistance provided by the army, marking a significant improvement in their healthcare situation.

The NAN reports that reaching Belegete involves a daunting six to eight-hour journey through mountainous terrain and dense rainforest from Butatong, the nearest town.