By: Felix Ikpotor
As part of efforts aimed at ensuring maximum health and fitness for officers and their families, the Rivers State Police Command has flagged-off a two-weeks Health Assessment Outreach tagged “Know Your Numbers, ” men of the Command.
The outreach according to the police is expected to monitor the vitals and common ailments medical associated with the work environment of the officers.
The 14-day outreach is being carried out in partnership with the Police Health Maintenance Limited and a non-governmental organization, Healthlink & Bridge Initiative.
Flagging-off the outreach at the Command’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the state commissioner of police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju said the command recognises that the strength of the force lies in the wellbeing of its officers and their families.
Adepoju who was represented at the event by the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations, DCP Alhassan Kawu, assured the officers that their welfare and that of their families remains a top priority of the command.
He noted that the outreach is the Command’s way of appreciating the officers and their families for working round the clock to keep Rivers State safe.
”The Commissioner recognizes that the strength of Nigerian Police Force lies in the health and well-being of its officers, men, and their families. This outreach is organized specifically for you, the officers and men who serve daily to keep River State safe, and for your loved ones who stand behind you.
”Your welfare remains the top priority of the Command. Today, the Police Medical Department will be providing free medical consultation, training, treatment, and health education to all personnel and their family members. This is our way of saying thank you for your sacrifice and to ensure that you and your families stay healthy and fit to serve, ” he said.
Adepoju further appreciated the Police Medical Department for making the outreach possible for officers of the command.
The assistant commissioner of police (medical) of the command, ACP Ahunanya Chukwudi Nnadozie in his welcome address said the programme reflects the Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu’s welfare policy for officers of the force. He addedd that they have the mandate of the Force Medical Director, AIG, Nkechi Eze to translate the policy to all commands and formations in the state.
“Know Your Numbers,” is a brainchild of the Force Medical Services Department to encourage police officers to check their numbers, adding that the exercise would be cascaded down to other formations within thr command.
” The numbers we are talking about include their blood pressure, their sugar level, their cholesterol level, as well as their body mass index, BMI. So it is on the heels of that that this morning we are flagging-off this all-important exercise, and it is also going to be cascaded down to all other formations, especially the area command, ” he stated.
For her part, South-South Zonal Coordinator of the Police Health Maintenance Limited, Edith Peters urged the officers and men of the command to take advantage of the 14-day outreach period to check their health statuses and that of their family members.
”For this 14-day period, we’re working together with our partners, the Police Clinic and Health Bridge Initiative, to make sure that we are able to help the police officers checkmate these incidents. So please, for this 14 days, we are calling on all the police officers to avail themselves of this service, ” She added.
She said in the coming days, the team will be moving to all formations for thd programme.
