The management of Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) has flagged off free medical outreach for 300 pupils of Akengbuda Primary School at Urora community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
The outreach flagged off on Friday, May 9, 2025, was organised in partnership with the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) at the premises of the school.
The medical programmes include free dental, skin, eye screenings, tooth extraction, provision of free medication and treatment, while there will be referral to any health facilities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Faith Osazuwa-Ojo, president/chief operating officer, LAPO, said that the organisation was established in 1987 with the mission of empowering the poor, especially women, with access to financial services, healthcare, and social empowerment opportunities.
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Osazuwa-Ojo, represented by James-Wisdom Abhulimen, head, Corporate Communications, noted that the LAPO Community Health Outreach has remained a vital response to the serious health challenges facing rural communities.
She said that from the first outreach in Ugha Community, Uhumwonde Local Government Area, the programme has been extended to eight underserved communities across Edo, Oyo states, and Abuja.
She said that no fewer than 16,285 community members, including adults and children, have benefited from the programme, while a total of N7.2 million has been spent on the outreach since its inception.
She added that from mobile clinics to health sensitisation and educational workshops, the outreach strategy has helped to provide essential services to communities that would otherwise lack access to proper healthcare.
According to her, “Our journey in health intervention began in 2012 with the screening of 248 women for cervical cancer under the Edo State Cervical Cancer Programme. About 18 of those diagnosed with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and other predisposing conditions were treated free of charge.
“As we are all aware, Nigeria’s healthcare system continues to face significant challenges. Primary Health Centres, especially in rural areas, are poorly equipped and understaffed, resulting in alarming rates of maternal, newborn, and child mortality.
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“The absence of clean water, sanitation, power supply, and the lack of motivated health professionals further worsen the situation.
“In response, LAPO has remained steadfast in bridging this gap by deploying innovative community-based healthcare solutions.
“Today’s outreach represents our ongoing commitment to this cause, and we are proud to note that our beneficiaries are people who would never have had the opportunity to benefit from specialist medical services due to poverty and distance.
“Through our numerous initiatives, we continue to foster the emergence of economically empowered and health-conscious communities.
“In recent years, we have scaled up our efforts through the LAPO Community Campaign for Cancer Control (LAPOC4), currently running in Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Imo states and the FCT.
“This programme is focused on prevention and early detection of cancer, building on our earlier collaboration with the Edo State Ministry of Health on cervical and breast cancer awareness,” she said.
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While appreciating Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for partnership, support and facilitating the outreach, she opined that together they can transform the health outcomes of our people and build stronger, healthier communities.
She solicited the support and partnership of the State Government for the establishment of Screening Centres across Nigeria, and LAPO’s ongoing health outreaches in rural communities across Edo state.
In his remarks, Enahoro Isaac, headmaster of the school, commended LAPO for the outreach, but solicited for its sustenance.
Isaac called on other corporate organisations, captains of industries and well to do individuals in the society to emulate LAPO in bringing healthcare services to the grassroots.
