Customs Boss, Hameed Ali Opens Annual Medical Corps Retreat, Pledges to Prioritize Healthcare Service
By Trek Africa Newspaper
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), on Wednesday, expressed his relentless effort to continue to improve the welfare of the Customs Officers by prioritizing healthcare in the Service.
The CGC who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller General in Charge of the Human Resource Development Department made this disclosure during a 7-day annual NCS medical retreat in Minna, Niger State, adding that “maintaining the current improved healthcare delivery for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service will result in producing healthier and more productive NCS personnel.”
Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) described this year’s Annual Medical Corps Retreat as an opportunity for officers to rub minds in the area of medical education, to improve the healthcare delivery system of the Service for improved productivity.
It was learned that the NCS’ Annual Medical Corps Retreat opens the path for principal officers from all twenty-six NCS clinics and hospitals across the nation to review the past year’s activities and share recommendations for better performance.
He charged the NCS Medical Corps to remain resolute in ensuring prompt and quality service delivery to the officers and men, their families, and also the members of host communities in various areas of operation.
The Comptroller-General, however, commended the NCS Medical Corps for holding this year’s Annual Retreat, adding that “We have recently employed about 200 additional medical staff to improve healthcare delivery in the Service while ensuring continued capacity building through short and long duration courses including specialist residency programs for already confirmed healthcare officers. NCS Management has over the years made efforts to motivate the healthcare staff in many ways and to ensure that medical supplies are available to her healthcare system despite budgetary constraints.”
Speaking earlier, the Head of the Medical Corps of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. EI Nnaji, said that the outreach will take NCS Medical Corps to two health centres to offer general medical consultations, eye tests, health talks, and laboratory tests to members of the surrounding communities.
“Treatments for identified ailments shall be given to clients and referrals made to appropriate centres where necessary. The centres for the outreach are Primary Health Care Centre, Tunga Bay Clinic Road, and Primary Health Care Centre Old Airport Road, Minna. Our team shall also visit Umar Audi Primary School, Tunga, Minna to carry out deworming of the pupils.” He said.
The program was said to have been attended by the representative of Niger state governor, who doubles as the commissioner of health, Makusidi Mohammed, the Deputy Comptroller General (HRD) Saidu Galadima Saidu representing the CGC, ACG/Zonal Coordinator ‘B’ OK Ekwealo, Customs Area Controller Niger/Kogi Command Comptroller Busayo Kadejo, Head of Security Agencies operating in Niger State and medical personnel from the ministry of health amongst others.
The theme of this year’s 2023 retreat is “Nurturing the Next Generation” with an initiative to reach out to the host community with a free medical outreach.
