Korede Abdullah 
BAYELSA, Nigeria – More than 250 residents of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State receive free healthcare during a medical outreach aimed at improving access to basic health services in the community.
The outreach, led by Dame Julie Donli on Monday, provides medical consultations, eye examinations and treatment to residents, with elderly people among those receiving care for eye-related conditions and other minor health concerns.
Children also undergo medical screening and receive free medication for common illnesses, including malaria and cough.
Donli says the intervention is designed to take basic healthcare services closer to vulnerable residents who may struggle to access or afford medical treatment.
“Healthcare should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. We must continue to take compassion and services directly to our communities,” she says.
Residents receive consultations, examinations and medications without payment, with beneficiaries expressing relief at being able to access medical attention within their community.
Donli says community-based interventions are important in supporting vulnerable populations and encouraging greater access to essential healthcare services.
“For us, this is more than a medical exercise. It is hope translated into action, compassion turned into service and leadership brought closer to the people,” she says.
The outreach focuses on basic medical needs, including eye health and treatment of common ailments affecting children and adults.
The intervention comes amid persistent concerns about access to affordable healthcare in rural and underserved Nigerian communities, where distance, cost and limited health facilities can prevent residents from seeking timely medical attention.
Community-based medical outreaches can provide immediate relief while also helping to identify residents who require further treatment or referral to healthcare facilities.
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