BRINGING QUALITY HEALTHCARE TO THE GRASSROOTS: EDO STATE’S FREE MEDICAL OUTREACH ADVANCING SDG 3 UNDER SENATOR MONDAY OKPEBHOLO
Under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Edo State Government is ensuring that communities across the state have direct access to quality healthcare in alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. Through a far-reaching initiative driven by the Office of the Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the government is taking medical services to the doorsteps of the people. The ongoing Free Medical Outreach has become a beacon of hope for residents in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
Led by Hon Sally Suleiman, Special Adviser on SDGs to the Governor, the programme reflects Edo State’s strong commitment to making healthcare not a privilege for a few but a right for all.
The journey began in June 2025 at Warake Community in Edo North Senatorial District, where hundreds of residents received free medical consultations, comprehensive laboratory tests, and medication. Building on that success, the outreach continued on October 22, 2025, at Uwaessan (Udomi Community and neighboring villages) in Edo Central Senatorial District, bringing essential health services closer to more families across the region.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the outreach provided free medical tests, treatment, and registration into the Edo Health Insurance Scheme. It stands as a testament to the government’s determination to strengthen healthcare delivery and promote preventive medicine at the grassroots.
The programme offered a wide range of services including:
• Free eye checks and distribution of medical glasses
• Laboratory tests covering:
1. Hepatitis B and C
2. Fasting blood sugar
3. Full blood count
4. Prostate specific antigen
5. Fasting serum lipids (cholesterol, etc.)
6. HIV test
7. Breast cancer screening
and several other essential diagnostic services
Beyond medical testing, the outreach also provides family planning counseling and refers special cases to specialist hospitals for advanced care.
This initiative has restored hope and strengthened the bond between government and the people. Each outreach reaffirms the belief that sustainable development begins with healthy citizens.
According to Sally Suleiman, “Health is the foundation of development. When we invest in the wellbeing of our people, we are securing the future of Edo State.”
Through visionary leadership, compassion, and collaboration, Edo State under Senator Monday Okpebholo continues to prove that progress is not measured by policies alone but by the lives trans
formed in every community.
