…sparks renewed calls for sustained grassroots healthcare support

No fewer than 222 residents of Oza and Sakponba communities in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State received free medical care at a one-day outreach organised by the Esther Idisi Foundation, an intervention that has again brought into sharp focus the widening gap in access to basic healthcare at the grassroots.

The outreach, the foundation’s first, held on Friday at Oza Junction, opposite Asoro Primary School along Sakponba Road, Benin City. It drew a large turnout of residents, many of whom seized the rare opportunity to access medical services they said are often beyond their reach.

Medical personnel at the event offered a broad range of services, including blood sugar and blood pressure checks, malaria and typhoid testing, eye examinations, and general consultations. Free medications were dispensed, while patients requiring further attention were referred to appropriate health facilities.

Director of Operations of the foundation, Odemero Uloho, who represented the founder, Mrs. Choice Idonije, said the initiative was conceived to bridge critical healthcare gaps in underserved communities. He commended the foundation’s leadership and management team for their collective effort in ensuring the success of the programme and hinted at plans to expand its scope.

“We started with the intention of making this an annual programme, but given the response, we will review our plans and see how we can scale it up. We are grateful to God for how far we have come and hopeful for greater impact in the future,” he said.

Also speaking, the foundation’s Secretary, Barrister Imonitie Omokhodion, noted that the initiative was inspired by the legacy of the late Esther Idisi, whose lifelong commitment to philanthropy continues to guide the foundation’s mission.

He explained that the outreach coincided with her posthumous birthday and was designed to extend her tradition of giving to the community, particularly to those unable to afford basic healthcare.

According to him, the turnout far exceeded expectations, underscoring the urgent need for more consistent interventions at the community level.

Medical implementation partner, Dr. Blessing Gomina-Amune, an optometrist and CEO of JessJojo Eye Clinic, described the outreach as impactful, noting that demand for services outstripped projections.

“I was scheduled to attend to about 40 patients, but I ended up seeing over 72. This shows the level of need. Many people require these services but simply cannot afford them,” she said.

Another partner, Dr. Michael Nwameme, an integrative metabolic health physician, observed that while common conditions such as hypertension and diabetes were less prevalent than expected, cases of malaria, infections, and body pains were widespread—conditions he linked to the socio-economic realities of the community.

He, however, warned of a gradual shift, as increased access to cheap processed foods could expose low-income populations to lifestyle-related diseases in the future. He called for intensified health education and preventive care campaigns to mitigate emerging risks.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the intervention, describing it as timely and impactful. A community representative, Ehis Omoruyi, who also hosted the outreach, praised the organisers for bringing free healthcare services closer to the people.

Another resident, Osazee Joseph, said the care he received exceeded expectations, particularly the provision of eyeglasses which significantly improved his vision.

The success of the outreach has reinforced a familiar reality: for many Nigerians at the grassroots, access to even basic healthcare remains a challenge.

While the Esther Idisi Foundation’s intervention has provided immediate relief, stakeholders say sustained, large-scale efforts—by both public and private actors—are essential to close the gap and ensure that quality healthcare is not a privilege, but a right accessible to all.