Ugbajo Itsekiri UK Bridges Healthcare Gap With Free Medical Outreach for Olu of Warri’s 5th Coronation

By Ezekiel Kagbala

More than 300 Itsekiri men, women, youths, children and elderly residents of Omadino community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by Ugbajo Itsekiri United Kingdom, UK to commemorate the fifth coronation anniversary of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III.

The healthcare intervention, held on Tuesday at Nenuwa Hall, Omadino, attracted a large turnout of residents, many of whom arrived early to access medical services ranging from consultation and diagnosis to medication, eye screening and health education.

For many of the beneficiaries, the outreach provided a rare opportunity to receive professional medical attention without having to worry about consultation fees, the cost of drugs or other expenses associated with accessing healthcare.

The initiative, organised by Ugbajo Itsekiri UK in collaboration with the Palace of the Olu of Warri, formed part of activities marking the fifth anniversary of the monarch's coronation, but also highlighted the organisation's broader commitment to improving healthcare access among Itsekiri communities in Delta State.

The programme featured free medical consultations, health assessments, blood pressure and blood sugar checks, diagnosis, prescriptions and the dispensing of medication for various health conditions.

A dedicated eye-care section also provided eye examinations, treatment and eyeglasses to beneficiaries, alongside support for blindness prevention and cataract operations.

The intervention is particularly significant in communities where residents may face financial difficulties, limited access to healthcare facilities or delays in seeking professional medical attention.

Declaring the programme open, Dr Mrs Tosan Amorighoye said the outreach was designed to assist residents who could not easily afford basic healthcare services.

She explained that free medical intervention had become an important feature of Ugbajo Itsekiri UK's activities during the coronation anniversary of the Olu of Warri.

According to her, the organisation's objective was not merely to mark the anniversary, but to use the occasion to provide practical support to people in need.

The President of Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, Mr Mejebi Eyewuoma, said the organisation had sustained its free healthcare initiative for more than a decade, deliberately taking the programme to communities where the need was greatest.

He said the intervention covered eye screening, blood pressure and blood sugar checks, general health assessments, medical consultations and treatment.

“We pick communities where there is need and provide free healthcare services. We are doing this especially for people struggling financially, with the support of His Majesty, the Olu of Warri,” Eyewuoma said.

He added that Ugbajo Itsekiri UK would continue to explore ways of expanding the programme and reaching more Itsekiri communities.

The Director of Operations of Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, Nurse Dereen Ekpede, a nurse-midwife with King's College Hospital, London, said the organisation was also paying particular attention to maternal and child healthcare.

She said strengthening healthcare at community level was essential to preventing avoidable complications and ensuring that residents received appropriate medical attention at the earliest opportunity.

The emphasis on maternal and child health, she noted, formed part of the organisation's wider effort to address some of the healthcare challenges confronting Itsekiri communities.

A prominent member of Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, Barrister Jolomi Omagbitse, said the medical outreach was an annual initiative which was deliberately rotated among different communities.

He said the organisation's long-term objective was to ensure that communities across Iwere Land benefited from the programme.

Omagbitse also raised concerns over delayed medical intervention, particularly where parents wait too long before seeking professional help.

He observed that some residents resort to alternative treatments before visiting healthcare professionals, a situation which, he said, could make certain medical conditions more difficult and expensive to treat.

For the beneficiaries, the outreach came at a time when many needed medical attention but might otherwise have struggled to meet the cost.

A 52-year-old beneficiary, Mrs Charity Ogbeye, who received medication for malaria, said the intervention came at a particularly critical moment for her.

She expressed appreciation to the Olu of Warri and Ugbajo Itsekiri UK for bringing free medical services directly to the community.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Ebietomere Amajuoritse, said she was grateful after receiving free eye screening and eyeglasses.

Similarly, Hellin Miki, who had been living with a long-standing eye problem, said she received medication to address the condition.

The beneficiaries described the outreach as a welcome intervention, particularly for residents who face financial challenges in accessing healthcare.

While the medical outreach formed part of activities marking the fifth coronation anniversary of Ogiame Atuwatse III, its impact extended beyond the celebration.

For Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, the intervention represents a practical expression of solidarity with Itsekiri communities and an effort to reduce the healthcare burden on vulnerable residents.

The organisation said the programme was implemented with the support of the Palace of the Olu of Warri and was designed to promote preventive healthcare, early detection and timely treatment.

The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to taking similar interventions to other Itsekiri communities across Iwere Land, stressing that access to basic healthcare should not be determined by a person's financial circumstances.

The Omadino outreach therefore provided not only medical services, but also a platform for health education, early diagnosis and community engagement, reinforcing the message that the wellbeing of the people remains central to the celebration of the Olu of Warri's fifth year on the throne.