The Benue State government has started its rural health intervention missions to carter for indigent citizens suffering from various ailments without adequate medical attention.

The Director of Public Health, Dr Terna Kur, and the Wife of Governor Samuel Ortom, Eunice, led the medical missions to Gbatse and Gube in Ushongo and Kwande local government areas to treat malaria and conduct HIV/AIDs tests on youths and children.

According to Dr. Kur, the government believes that it is important to reach out to the communities to create awareness, even about the smallest of aliments.

“For instance, we are talking about HIV testing so that people can know their status and this is what we have been promoting in public health.

“We have been talking about de-worming the children so that they can live healthy and sound. We expect that in the course of the outreach, other things like blood pressure and the basic health needs of the people will be attended to.”

Kur also said that the government was building an oncology centre as part of its efforts to boost health care delivery in the state.

“We are very serious about promoting and providing good health care in Benue State to support the governor’s effort and we have gone ahead to secure land and are awaiting the foundation laying ceremony to establish an oncology centre in the state and to build a rehabilitation center and a mother and child health centre,” he said.

Meanwhile, women under the aegis of Kwande Sisters, who volunteered both personnel and financial support to the medical mission in Gube, advised beneficiaries against self-medication.