Israel Oluyemi
Free medical services have reached 73,000 people in the Akor and Ndibeji communities in Akamkpa, Cross River, over three years.
The programme ran from May 2022 to September 2025 to improve access to healthcare for residents near the Nigerian-Cameroonian border.
Healthcare teams treated illnesses, including injuries, respiratory infections, typhoid fever, and malaria, identifying over 30,000 malaria cases during the project.
Medical staff admitted 8,000 patients for observation and referred them for further treatment.
They assisted in 2,123 child deliveries, conducted 3,887 antenatal consultations, offered 5,776 family planning sessions, and administered 9,303 vaccinations.
“We provided 3,887 antenatal consultations, 5,776 family planning sessions, and administered 9,303 vaccinations,” said Mr Abdulkareem Yakubu, the Field Communication Officer.
The project strengthened two primary healthcare centres and trained local staff to ensure sustainable healthcare services in the communities.
Community outreach covered 17 villages through house-to-house health promotion, follow-up referrals, and higher-level care.
“This approach helped us to bridge gaps in health awareness and encouraged timely care-seeking,” Yakubu added.
Project staff faced challenges, including poor roads, difficult terrain, and long distances between communities.
Despite these obstacles, the programme saved thousands of lives and improved health in the region.