Thousands of Nigerian Women Get Free Healthcare on Women's Day

Thousands of women in Enugu, Nigeria received free medical care they desperately needed but couldn't afford, all in a single day at Michael Okpara Square.

The Custos Care Foundation organized the massive healthcare outreach on International Women's Day, recognizing a painful truth: women spend their lives caring for everyone else while ignoring their own health. Founded by Enugu State's First Lady, Mrs. Nkechinyere Iheoma Mbah, the foundation brought doctors, nurses, and optometrists together to reverse that trend.

Women received comprehensive health screenings including blood pressure checks, diabetes testing, HIV/AIDS screening, malaria testing, and hepatitis B screening. Those needing vision support walked away with free eyeglasses, 230 pairs in total.

The process was thorough. Nurses checked vital signs first, then lab technicians ran necessary tests. Doctors examined each patient and wrote prescriptions that were filled on the spot at no cost.

One discovery highlighted why these screenings matter so much. A woman who felt perfectly healthy learned her blood pressure measured 199/105, a dangerously high reading that could have killed her. She immediately started medication and now knows to monitor her condition.

Medical experts at the outreach explained that untreated high blood pressure causes many sudden deaths that communities sometimes wrongly blame on spiritual causes. Regular health checks catch these silent killers before tragedy strikes.

The Ripple Effect

When mothers get healthy, entire families benefit. The women who received care on this day returned home with medications, knowledge about their health conditions, and the ability to see clearly again.

The Expanded Mama Care Initiative, which organized this outreach, works on four pillars: healthcare access, nutrition and wellness, safe pregnancy and delivery, and post-natal and child care. Each pillar supports women at different life stages, recognizing their central role in Nigerian communities.

Managing Director Mrs. Blessing Egodi Igwe put it simply: "As the backbone of society, women frequently prioritize the well-being of others above their own. This intervention ensures that they receive the care and medical attention they deserve."

The foundation committed to continuing these interventions for women, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups who lack access to basic healthcare. This Women's Day became more than a celebration; it became an investment in keeping Nigeria's caregivers alive and well.