17 Brigade Expands Civil-Military Outreach, Strengthens Rural Healthcare in Katsina
By Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Army’s 17 Brigade has strengthened healthcare delivery in rural communities in Katsina State through the provision of medical supplies, equipment and infrastructure upgrades to a primary healthcare centre in Natsinta Village, Jibia Local Government Area.
Health workers at the facility told Defence Correspondents during a visit on Tuesday that the intervention has significantly improved access to healthcare services, increased patient turnout and enhanced maternal, child health and immunisation programmes.
The Officer-in-Charge of the clinic, Mrs. Hafsat Ailu, said the facility now provides routine immunisation for children, tetanus and diphtheria vaccinations, antenatal services and treatment for common ailments.
She said the clinic attends to between 30 and 45 patients daily, with the figure rising to as many as 65 following the military’s intervention.
“After the brigade supplied drugs and upgraded the facility, more people began coming for treatment because they now have confidence that essential medicines are available,” Ailu said.
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According to her, the 17 Brigade supplied drugs, injections, hospital equipment, bedsheets and curtains, renovated sections of the clinic, constructed staff toilets, installed water storage facilities and provided a borehole, significantly improving the quality of healthcare delivery.
She appealed for greater support from the local government to complement the military’s efforts, noting that most of the assistance received by the facility had come from the Nigerian Army.
Village Head of Natsinta, Alhaji Ibrahim Natsinta, commended the Commander of the 17 Brigade, Brigadier General M.I. Ibrahim, for extending free healthcare services to the community, describing the intervention as timely and life-saving.
He said repeated appeals to the local government for assistance had yielded little result before the Army stepped in to bridge the healthcare gap.
“The intervention has become a lifeline for our people. Beyond providing security, the Nigerian Army has shown genuine concern for the welfare of our community,” the traditional ruler said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Habiba Sani, who received free antenatal care at the facility, said the programme had eased the financial burden on pregnant women by eliminating the need to travel long distances for routine medical services.
“The services are free, and it has saved us both money and the stress of travelling to distant hospitals for antenatal care,” she said.
The intervention forms part of the Nigerian Army’s civil-military cooperation initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of host communities while strengthening public confidence and support for ongoing security operations in Katsina State.
