Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Nigerian Air Force conducts medical outreach for veterans

 

Lagos, Jan.13, 2024. The Logistic Command, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday conducted a NAF Medical Veterans Outreach in commemorationof the year 2024 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day scheduled for Jan. 15.

The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Yaro Abdullahi, representing the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar said that the maiden edition was an initiative of the CAS.

Abdullahi in an interview with newsmen at the Logistics Command, NAF Officers Mess, Ikeja said that the medical outreach would be held annually in commemmoration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

He said that the CAS, felt it necessary to reach out to retired colleagues that might have some form of medical issue so that they could be given medical attention.

"This medical outreach is not just a one-off activity but will be continuous for anybody that is found with any form of medical problem for a follow up medical attention.

"The CAS has directed that this programme be put in the annals of the Airforce which will be of a continuous nature to be held every Armed Forces Remembrance Day coming.

"He also directed that every command looked into the situation where we can make the veterans outreach it more frequent," the AOC said.

Abdullahi said that the NAF, Headquarters, Abuja had already set up a Directorate of Veteran Affairs saddled with the responsibility of looking into the issues of veterans.

"Part of these responsibilities include looking at how some of the retired personnel who have some certification can be brought back into the Airforce to do some contract engagement.

"At the same time, we are also looking at how we can market them to other civil organisations and agencies to proffer security solutions and skill set for security purposes.

"The country has spent quite a lot of funds in training our retired personnel and it will be just a waste, if we do not engage them productively even though they are retired," he said.

The AOC said that the NAF veterans could never be forgotten because they were still part of the Airforce family and still a part of the national architecture of the country.

"So, I urge our veterans to continue to be disciplined, loyal and patriotic to the government of the day but most importantly, take care of their health.

"All the training that they have acquired from the time of entering into the service to the disengagement out of service, should continue to be maintained," Abdullahi said.

Retired Group Captain Tajudeen Shodeinde who retired in 1997 applauded the medical outreach but called for more publicity in subsequent editions so that more veterans would turn up.

"Some of our retired personnel don't know about this medical outreach for veterans.

"It will do well to create more publicity so that they will know that this facility exists so that they can come around and take care of their health," Shodeinde said.

Retired Flying Officer, Sheni Danazumi who retired 15 years ago said that she was happy with the programme which showed an improvement of activities in the NAF compared to her time.

Master Warrant Officer, Dada Olufemi, who retired in 2013 said that he was overwhelmed with what the NAF had put together for the veterans being the first of its kind.

"I appreciate the authority of the Airforce for remembering and looking after the medical welfare of us that have retired from the service.

"I pray that the Almighty God will continue to strengthen those in authority so that they can still be able to do more for us," Olufemi said.