SOMEONE REMEMBERED UDO: HOW PROF. IDIA IZE-IYAMU'S FREE MEDICAL OUTREACH IS RESTORING HOPE, HEALING LIVES, AND RENEWING FAITH IN COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP
*SOMEONE REMEMBERED UDO*
_A Reflection Inspired by the People of Udo_
The moment word swept through our streets that the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. (Mrs.) Idia Nibokun Ize-Iyamu, would be bringing a three-day free medical outreach to Udo from Tuesday, 11th to Thursday, 13th August, 2026, I found myself smiling. Then I learnt that, before the outreach, a UBTH delegation had paid a courtesy visit to the Palace of our revered Iyase. At that moment, I knew this was different. It was not simply another programme announced from afar; it reflected a genuine desire to identify with our people before serving them. For the first time in a long while, many of us felt that Udo had been remembered.
Those who live in cities may never fully understand what access to healthcare means in places like ours. Here, many endure illnesses far longer than they should. Some elderly men and women have gradually lost their sight because specialist care remained beyond their reach. Many have never checked their blood pressure until complications begin to appear. Parents often postpone seeking treatment, hoping that tomorrow's strength will somehow return on its own. In Udo, healthcare is not always just a journey; for many families, it is a difficult choice shaped by distance, cost and circumstance. These are not isolated experiences- they are part of our everyday reality. That is why this outreach has filled our people with genuine excitement.
There is another reason this initiative means so much to us. Not long ago, our Comprehensive Health Centre received a new lease of life through renovation courtesy of Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu's glowing administration. We celebrated because we finally had a facility that looked worthy of the people it was built to serve. Now, seeing that same health centre chosen for this outreach makes its transformation complete. A health centre is more than fresh paint, repaired walls or new fittings. Its true value is revealed when its doors open to those in need, its rooms become places of healing, and its corridors are filled with the reassuring presence of healthcare professionals. That is when a building truly fulfils the purpose for which it was created.
That thoughtful approach speaks of humility and respect. It shows that meaningful development begins by carrying people along, understanding their needs and earning their trust. Healthcare is not only about hospitals, equipment and medicines; it is also about compassion. When people feel respected before they are treated, confidence is built long before the first consultation begins.
As I listened to what the outreach will provide- free medical consultations; screening for hypertension, diabetes and eye diseases; dental care; minor surgical procedures; cataract surgeries; free reading glasses; essential medications; deworming for our children; health education; appropriate referrals; and many other life-changing services- I could not help but picture familiar faces. I thought of the elderly woman who has accepted blurred vision as an unavoidable part of growing old but may now see clearly again. I thought of the farmer who dismisses persistent headaches because he has never checked his blood pressure. I thought of young mothers who always put the health of their children ahead of their own. I thought of the many others who have quietly endured conditions that simple surgical procedures could correct. For many people, these services may seem ordinary. For families like ours, they could mean restored sight, renewed health, relief from years of discomfort, and a fresh chance at life.
Although I have never met Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, I feel compelled to thank her. Leadership is not remembered only for the offices people occupy or the projects they complete. It is remembered for the difference it makes in the lives of ordinary people. By ensuring that quality healthcare reaches communities like ours, she has shown that true development is measured not merely by what is built, but by how it improves people's lives.
As August approaches, there is a quiet excitement in our homes, our streets and our conversations. People are reminding neighbours about the dates and making plans to attend. We are looking forward not only to welcoming the UBTH team, but also to seeing our renewed health centre fulfil the purpose for which it was restored.
Indeed, Udo is ready- not merely to receive a medical outreach, but to honour the kindness of the one who remembered us.
_Endurance Osayemwenre writes from Udo, Ovia South-West Local Government Area, Edo State._
