A former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, says President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector has further emboldened her to continue her 19-year free medical and surgery outreach.
Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday at the Madam Suzanna Mba Health Centre, Isuochi, venue of the 19th edition of the outreach, Onyejeocha described the programme as a “family pattern” of caring for the sick, vulnerable and those unable to afford medical treatment.
“My grandmother was taking care of people and taking them to hospital when they were sick. Even women who had no means to care for themselves after delivery, she would take them, nurse them, wean them and return them to their husbands. So I grew up watching her. It is hereditary,” she said.
Onyejeocha noted that government alone cannot meet the huge healthcare needs of Nigerians, hence the need for individuals to intervene in their own way.
She commended President Tinubu for his programmes across sectors, particularly in health and social development through the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate.
“It is not just about health. In social development, the President has continued to receive accolades across the globe. What I am doing today is in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in health. Though I started it 19 years earlier, it has emboldened me to do more. That is why we now take people who cannot access primary healthcare to tertiary hospitals where we sponsor their treatment,” she stated.
Speaking on the impact of the outreach, she said, “The major breakthrough is that I am now more aware of the challenges of our people. After 16 years in parliament, I realised that government cannot do very much because there are a lot of people to cater for.”
She explained that the outreach treats common ailments such as malaria and appendicitis, while referring more serious cases. She cited the case of a young mother whose baby was born without an anus and was quoted between N3 million and N5 million for surgery.
“If you don’t help her, nobody will help her. Where are you sending her to? A young mother, not up to 25 years old. It’s too early to start this kind of thing,” she said.
The former minister disclosed that the facility used for the outreach belongs to her and is fully equipped with male and female wards, a theatre and other departments.
She said the programme has run for 19 years, even when she was out of parliament, and stressed the need for health education and personal responsibility.
Onyejeocha urged citizens to prioritise their well-being and avoid carelessness. “Spiritual wellbeing is key to overall health. We must pray and have faith,” she added.
On modernising public healthcare, she noted that government already has many policies but needs more commitment in implementation.
She also appealed for support to sustain the outreach despite setbacks, including a recent security incident where equipment and electrical wires were stolen from the facility.
The medical outreach commenced on Sunday, July 26, 2026, and will end on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
Recall that Isuikwuato LGA had earlier benefited from the outreach, where serious health cases were discovered and treated by the medical team led by Dr. Humble Evuchiawe.
