By Kelvin Obambon
A five-day free medical outreach spearheaded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative, ECEWS, CSDON, and the Cross River health sector, is currently providing essential specialist healthcare services to residents of Calabar at no cost.
The crucial intervention, which began on Monday, November 24 at the Calabar Women and Children Hospital, Murtala Mohammed Highway, has been lauded as particularly timely, as it is running concurrently with the ongoing nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The outreach aims to mitigate the financial burden on families and deliver urgent medical care to underserved communities across the state.
A comprehensive team of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and specialists, is offering a broad range of services. These include dentistry, eye care, surgical procedures, obstetrics and gynaecology, full medical consultations, and laboratory investigations. Patients are also receiving free medications and health counselling focused on preventive care.
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Speaking on Tuesday during the official flag-off of the exercise, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke PhD, the Cross River State Representative on the NDDC board, hailed the initiative, noting its critical timing. He described the outreach as “life-saving,” adding that “Patients who would have otherwise be stranded in the hospitals as a result of this strike are right here receiving quality medical care.”
Duke extended his gratitude to the management of the Calabar Women and Children Hospital for partnering with the NDDC to provide these services to the public free of charge. He also thanked the state government for its continued collaboration, reiterating that the NDDC’s interventions are designed “to complement the effort of the government in critical areas of intervention.”
Mrs Onari Duke, speaking on behalf of the hospital management, welcomed the joint medical and NDDC teams, assuring them of the facility’s full support in achieving the goals of the free medical outreach.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries who accessed services on the second day, which was Tuesday, praised the intervention, highlighting its timely nature and the high quality of care provided without any cost. They also expressed deep gratitude for the efficient organization and the access to specialist care they noted they would have struggled to afford, particularly in private facilities during this NARD strike.
The outreach is one of the activities marking the NDDC’s 25th anniversary, demonstrating the Commission’s sustained commitment to enhancing public health and welfare across the Niger Delta region. Residents are encouraged to visit the Calabar Women and Children Hospital daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday, November 28, 2025, to utilize the free medical services.
