The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in collaboration with medical stakeholders and volunteer health professionals, has concluded a week-long Free Medical Outreach in Calabar, delivering thousands of life-changing health interventions to residents at no cost.
The programme, which held from November 24 to 28, 2025, at the Women and Children Hospital on Murtala Mohammed Highway, provided access to a wide range of specialist healthcare services for underserved communities in the state.
Organisers explained that the outreach was initiated to reduce the financial burden on households while ensuring timely access to quality medical care for those who would otherwise go without essential treatment.
During the exercise, multidisciplinary teams comprising doctors, nurses, surgeons, and medical consultants attended to patients across key areas such as dentistry, eye care, obstetrics and gynaecology, surgeries, laboratory investigations, and general medical consultations.
Beneficiaries also received free medications, health education, and personal counselling on prevention and wellness. Many residents expressed appreciation to the NDDC, describing the intervention as both “timely and life-saving,” especially for families struggling with economic challenges.
Field reports confirmed that no patient was required to pay for any form of treatment or medication throughout the outreach, further boosting public confidence in the initiative.
The outreach was organised as part of activities marking the NDDC’s 25th anniversary and aligns with the Commission’s renewed mandate to enhance public welfare and strengthen healthcare delivery across the Niger Delta region.
A breakdown of the medical statistics released to journalists at the close of the programme shows significant impact:
✓Total Patients Attended: 2,911
✓Total Interventions Delivered: 8,479
Service Highlights:
•Consultations — 1,543
•Eye Surgeries — 74
•General Eye Care — 799
•Eyeglasses Issued — 331
•Operating Room (OR) Procedures — 104
•OR Patients — 92
•Health Promotion Sessions — 228
•Pharmacy Services — 1,561
•Laboratory Patients — 795
•Laboratory Investigations Conducted — 3,441
•Dental Patients — 183
•Dental Procedures — 566
Speaking at the event, the NDDC Representative for Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, Ph.D commended the Commission’s management and the medical volunteers for their diligence and humanitarian spirit.
He emphasized that the NDDC remains committed to improving the well-being of the people and will continue investing in programmes that deliver real value at the grassroots.
He further encouraged residents to take advantage of similar interventions as the Commission expands its health outreach across the region.
With the success recorded in Calabar, stakeholders anticipate more inclusive health initiatives that will continue to bridge accessibility gaps and strengthen community health outcomes across the state.
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