May 11, (THEWILL) – The North-East Development Commission (NEDC), in partnership with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Borno State chapter, has provided free medical and surgical services to no fewer than 1,000 residents of Mafa Local Government Area in Borno State.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at Kaleri community in Mafa LGA, the Head of Service of Borno State, Muhammad Aminu Guluze, said the outreach was part of efforts to improve access to quality healthcare among underserved populations.
Guluze commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s zero-tolerance stance on substandard healthcare delivery, noting that the outreach was hosted at a well-equipped Primary Healthcare Centre, which reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening the health sector.
Representing the Managing Director/CEO of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali, the Borno State Coordinator of the commission, Engr. Mohammed Umaru Watsada, expressed satisfaction with the planning and successful rollout of the programme.
He reiterated that health remains a key component of NEDC’s human capital development agenda.
“The Commission is committed to strategic interventions like this one, which aim to bridge healthcare gaps and uplift the standard of living for people across the North-East,” Watsada said.
The Village Head of Kaleri and the Director of Primary Healthcare in Mafa LGA both expressed gratitude to NEDC, NMA Borno, and supporting partners, describing the initiative as the most significant healthcare intervention in the history of the community.
In his remarks, Chairman of the NMA, Borno State chapter, Dr. El-Yakub Yakubu Mohammed, commended NEDC for its sponsorship and thanked other contributors for their support.
He noted that the outreach was dedicated to the memory of the late Prof. Sunday Bwala, fondly remembered as a “teacher of teachers,” in recognition of his exceptional service to medicine and humanity.
Dr. El-Yakub stressed the need for continuity of such medical missions to sustain their long-term impact.
“This outreach reached over 1,000 people and featured a wide range of services, including free medical consultations and treatments, surgical procedures for goitre, hernia, hydrocoele, and cataract; dental care such as scaling and polishing; health education on disease prevention; distribution of over 100 safe delivery kits (Mama Kits) to pregnant women; free screenings for hepatitis, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, HIV; and ultrasound services,” he said.
The NMA State Secretary, Dr. Abubakar Kaka Sanda, also lauded NEDC and all partnering agencies for supporting the medical mission, which he described as a vital tool in promoting health equity and social responsibility.
The outreach was supported by BOSCHMA, the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHCDA), UNICEF, the Hospital Management Board (HMB), the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), and the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH).
Beneficiaries of the programme expressed gratitude to NEDC and NMA Borno, calling on other organizations and philanthropists to replicate similar community-focused healthcare initiatives across rural areas in the region.
