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Amid a torrential downpour, and as part of its corporate social responsibility, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta on Thursday launched a two-day free medical outreach at Okerenkoko in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Hundreds of residents from surrounding communities within the Gbaramatu Kingdom defied the heavy rains to benefit from the medical exercise, which began on Thursday and is scheduled to conclude on Friday.

Speaking at the Okerenkoko Community Hall, the Commander of NNS Delta, Commodore Abdulazeez Zubairu, emphasized that beyond its core mandate of safeguarding the nation’s maritime territory, the Nigerian Navy is also committed to fostering strong relationships with its host communities.

“The Nigerian Navy has a constitutional responsibility to secure the country’s maritime environment,” he said. “This includes defending the territorial integrity of the nation, responding to internal security threats, and protecting the lives and property of citizens.”

To achieve this mandate, the Navy, he explained, engages in Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities aimed at strengthening ties with the civilian population.

Represented by Navy Captain Ayi Archibong, the Executive Officer of NNS Delta, Commodore Zubairu noted that the outreach is aligned with the strategic directive of Operation Delta Sanity II, as directed by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.

Highlighting the goals of the programme, the naval commander described the medical outreach—organized in collaboration with the EMT Foundation as part of the Navy’s non-kinetic approach to security. This approach emphasizes community engagement, trust-building, and the overall well-being of citizens as critical components of effective security operations.

“The objective of this Medical Rhapsody is to bring basic healthcare services closer to our host communities,” he said. “These communities are key allies in our collective efforts to combat crime and insecurity. A healthy population is better equipped to support our security initiatives.”

He further explained that the outreach was inspired by the reality that many citizens, due to economic hardship, are unable to access adequate healthcare. The programme therefore offers free medical consultations, treatment, prescription medications, and counselling.

“We hope this two-day initiative will bring relief to many and empower beneficiaries with the knowledge to better manage their health. We are grateful to Almighty God for the opportunity to serve and contribute meaningfully to society. We also deeply appreciate the warm hospitality extended to us by the Okerenkoko community, and we commend our dedicated medical personnel for their professionalism and dedication.”

In his remarks, the Assistant Secretary of the Okerenkoko community, Pastor Christmas Ikare James, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, described the outreach as historic. He expressed profound gratitude to the Navy for providing timely assistance, especially at a time when many people are unable to afford basic medical services.

Despite the downpour, scores of residents spanning various genders, ages, and ethnic backgrounds from Okerenkoko and neighboring communities turned out to benefit from the free medical outreach, which wraps up on Friday.