The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) for rice and cassava on Sunday commenced free medical treatment for its farmers in Niger.
At the event, Dr Mathew Ahmed, the State Programme Coordinator, said that free medical outreach for the five VCDP participating Local Government Areas in the state was part of IFAD’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
There are 16,030 VCDP rice and cassava farmers, processors and marketers spread across Kontagora, Shiroro, Katcha, Bida and Wushishi Local Government Areas of the state.
Ahmed said that the free medical care for the farmers included consultation and counselling, blood pressure check, sugar level test, urinalysis and free drugs.
He said that the measure would ensure that the farmers were fit to farm and also ascertain their health status.
“We discovered that many of our farmers don’t go to hospital for routine check. If farmers are not healthy it affects their productivity.
“The idea is to ensure that our farmers are fit to produce more food and also know their health status,’’ he said.
The coordinator said that the gesture would boost food production towards ensuring food security of the state and the Nation at large.
Similarly, Dr Eunice Nmadu, a medical practitioner from the Federal Medical Centre, Bida said that the farmers were also administered with worm expellers and taught World Health Organisation hand washing technique.
Nmadu said that any serious health issue was referred to the federal medical centre in Bida for further diagnosis.
Also, Alhaji Baba Umar, District Head of Sheshi Katcha, who also benefited from the gesture, applauded the efforts of the VCDP in giving them farm output and ensuring they are healthy.
“I pray Almighty Allah to bless the VCDP for what they have done and give them the resources and strength to do more,’’ he said.
315 farmers and their households benefited from the free medical treatment. (NAN)
