*Treats Over 27,500 Patients, Performs 582 Surgeries
The North Central Grassroots Mobilisation Movement for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 has concluded a comprehensive, multi-million-naira free medical outreach across Benue State, providing critical healthcare services and life-saving surgical procedures to tens of thousands of vulnerable residents.
Facilitated by the National Coordinator of the movement, Arc. Sonny Echono, the intensive five-day humanitarian initiative commenced on Tuesday, October 27, and ended on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
The programme was simultaneously conducted at seven strategic tertiary and secondary healthcare facilities across the state. These included general hospitals in Makurdi, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, Vandeikya, Oju and Ugbokpo, as well as the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo.
Declaring the programme open at the General Hospital, North Bank, Makurdi, Arc. Sonny Echono said the intervention was designed to ease pressing healthcare challenges at the grassroots while building broad-based goodwill and support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
During the exercise, medical teams provided free diagnostic screenings, specialist consultations and treatments for conditions such as malaria, acute respiratory infections, hypertension and oral diseases. They also delivered maternal and paediatric healthcare services to expectant mothers and infants.
The medical outreach also covered surgical procedures for hernia, appendicitis, haemorrhoids and cataract extraction, as well as various minor operations.
Speaking to journalists on the overall impact of the exercise, the leader of the medical team, Professor Steve Abba, disclosed that a total of 27,529 patients received medical attention across the seven centres, while 582 surgical procedures were performed.
He added that the team conducted 2,384 ophthalmic consultations, distributed 225 pairs of corrective eyeglasses and provided specialised dental interventions to 1,847 individuals.
Records from the facilities showed that the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, recorded the highest turnout, with 7,597 beneficiaries. It was followed by Ugbokpo General Hospital, with 4,771 patients, and Vandeikya General Hospital, with 3,875 patients.
Beyond outpatient services, 74 patients with severe and complex medical conditions, comprising 33 men, 23 women and 18 children, were admitted for further treatment, extended inpatient care and clinical evaluation.
To ensure a lasting impact on the beneficiary institutions, the movement also supplied the healthcare facilities with substantial quantities of medical consumables, maternal delivery packs, diagnostic supplies and thousands of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (ITNs).
Communities across the state have commended the grassroots healthcare intervention.
At Ugbokpo General Hospital, Mrs Adeyi, who successfully delivered a baby boy during the exercise under the supervision of the outreach medical team, reportedly named her newborn son “Echono” in recognition of Arc. Sonny Echono’s humanitarian service to the people of Benue State.
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