More than 1,500 residents of Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Council of Delta State have benefited from a three-day community service programme organised by the Association of Ibusa Professional Women (AIPROW) in collaboration with the Ibusa Association, USA.

The programme featured a career talk on the girl-child mandate, distribution of wheelchairs to people living with disabilities, a mental health seminar and a free medical outreach.

The medical outreach attracted residents from Ibusa and neighbouring communities and offered free consultations, vital signs checks, blood sugar tests, eye examinations and cancer screening. Beneficiaries who required further assistance also received medications and eyeglasses.

The turnout exceeded the organisers’ expectations, with more than 600 people attending the medical outreach alone.

AIPROW President, Elizabeth Idigbe, said the crowd prompted the organisers to mobilise additional personnel and resources.

“We have more than 600 people here, and we have been attending to people continuously. Every time I looked around, I asked myself, ‘Are we really attending to everyone?’ because the crowd just keeps coming,” she said.

Doctors and nurses from Ibusa volunteered their services, while other medical professionals joined after seeing the number of people waiting to be attended to.

The demand was particularly strong for eye screening. Vision Springs donated 200 pairs of eyeglasses, while AIPROW purchased another 200.

Materials for blood sugar testing were also exhausted after more than 400 people had been screened, prompting additional support from the Light Diabetes Organisation.

Idigbe said the response highlighted the need for accessible healthcare, particularly for residents who may not have the opportunity to undergo routine medical checks.

The organisers also faced challenges managing the crowd. A first-come, first-served system was adopted, but volunteers had to deal with pressure from some beneficiaries seeking preferential treatment.

Despite the challenges, Idigbe said the response had reinforced AIPROW’s commitment to the initiative, which has been running for about 11 years.

She called on other community organisations, individuals and groups to establish similar programmes, stressing that meaningful healthcare interventions could be driven at the community level.

“This is needed. People need free medical services. If we continue doing this in Ibusa, somebody else does it in another community, and another person does the same somewhere else, it will make the country a better place,” she said.

The initiative, founded by Prof Ifeoma Utomi, has evolved over the years in response to changing community needs. Previous editions included support for beneficiaries requiring surgical procedures.

Idigbe said the involvement of younger members was also helping to secure the programme’s future.

For beneficiaries, the outreach offered more than free medical checks. It provided an opportunity to identify health concerns and receive treatment without the financial burden of a hospital visit.

One beneficiary, Ugobu Anthony, who underwent general medical and eye examinations, said he received medication for his blood pressure and was prescribed glasses after his vision was assessed.

“It was a good exercise and I appreciate the organisers. God will continue to bless them. It has not been easy, but they are doing their best,” he said.

Anthony, however, called for wider publicity ahead of future editions, saying he only learnt about the programme through his wife.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Veronica Odion, said the outreach had eased a burden she had carried for some time.

“These women are wonderful. They have done what is difficult for many organisations. I was at the event last year. This year, I still turned up. They got me tested. After the testing, they gave me eyeglasses and some medications,” she said.

For Odion, the value of the outreach went beyond the treatment she received.

“I am over the moon. They have surprised me beyond my imagination. I am going home fulfilled today because they have lifted a great burden from me,” she said.

At the opening ceremony, Idigbe described the initiative as a celebration of love, service, unity and community impact.

She said this year’s programme also included sessions on artificial intelligence, drug abuse, human trafficking and career development as part of efforts to support the girl child.