Over 400 Receive Free Medical Care as Biola Akinyemi Foundation Expands Outreach in Ijebu-Igbo

 By Biola Akinyemi Foundation

The early arrival of residents at a community medical outreach in Ijebu-Igbo has reinforced a growing question for the Biola Akinyemi Foundation: how can healthcare interventions move beyond periodic outreach events and become a more continuous part of community life?

More than 400 residents from Atikori, Ojowo, Omen, Osun and Oke Agbo in Ijebu North received free medical care during the Foundation’s two-day medical outreach held on August 28 and 29, 2026, at the Local Government Hall in Ijebu-Igbo.

The programme, which marked the Foundation’s third medical outreach, provided medical screening, consultations, health education, medication and eye-care support through a team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, eye-care professionals and volunteers.

But the scale of participation became more than an attendance figure.

According to Dr. Osho Olarewaju, who spoke on behalf of the medical team, about 142 people attended on the first day, while more than 250 people were attended to on the second day. The early turnout, he said, demonstrated the urgency with which residents approached the opportunity to receive medical attention. “People were ready to completely leave everything they had to make sure they see the doctors. That’s the urgency,” he said.

The medical team encountered cases that demonstrated the importance of accessible screening and timely intervention. Some patients recorded markedly elevated blood pressure, including readings around 220/110, requiring emergency referrals. Eye conditions, including cataracts, were also identified, while other cases required follow-up after screening.

An emergency during the programme further highlighted the importance of having medical professionals available in community settings. An attendee experienced an epileptic episode and received immediate assistance. The Foundation subsequently provided approximately three months of medication support for the family.

The Foundation also reported that approximately 75 per cent of attendees required medication for existing or long-term health conditions, with medicines provided during the programme.

Taking Healthcare Beyond One Community

The decision to hold the outreach at the Local Government Hall represented a deliberate expansion of the Foundation’s approach. Previous outreaches had been held in Idokan, the founder’s community. By moving the latest programme to a central location, the Foundation sought to make its services accessible to residents beyond Idokan and across the wider Ijebu-Igbo area.

The outreach itself was preceded by a community engagement meeting on August 27 involving representatives of the Obas of the five communities, with support from Ijebu North Local Government Chairman, Hon. Omobolaji Oluwaseun Odunsanya. The meeting brought community representatives and medical professionals together to discuss healthcare needs, the purpose of the outreach and how communities could contribute to an effective programme. A community-focused committee was also formed to sustain engagement and provide ongoing updates on healthcare needs and priorities.

This approach reflects a shift from simply bringing services into a community to creating stronger channels for understanding what communities need over time.

What Residents Experienced

For some residents, the outreach also helped reduce the financial burden associated with accessing certain healthcare services. Adeleye Akin, who learnt about the programme through his wife, arrived early because of an eye concern and received eyeglasses. He expressed appreciation for the service and noted that obtaining similar glasses could have cost about ₦40,000.

Another participant, Mr Dayo Adele, described the service as impressive and praised the medical team and volunteers for their patience, organisation and cordial treatment of attendees. He also encouraged the Foundation to continue returning to the community, assess changing needs and receive feedback.

These experiences point to a broader value of community-based healthcare: identifying problems early, reducing barriers to basic services and creating opportunities for residents to engage directly with healthcare professionals.

From Outreach to Continuity

For Ms Odedeyi Oluwakemi, team lead of the medical outreach, the objective is not simply to treat people when they become seriously ill, but to encourage earlier action. “People need to understand that prevention is better than cure,” she said.

Odedeyi said the Foundation’s healthcare focus includes preventive screening, early detection and management of health conditions, access to essential medicines, support for people living with chronic conditions and improved maternal healthcare, including better access to prenatal care.

The Foundation’s longer-term plan is to expand healthcare access across Ijebu North rather than depend solely on annual outreaches.

The Foundation already has a centre on Idokan Street in Ojo community and plans to establish between three and five medical centres across Ijebu over a five-year period. It also intends to move from an annual outreach model towards more frequent community-based consultations, while exploring the rehabilitation of selected primary healthcare facilities. The next medical consultations at the Foundation’s centre are scheduled for September 12 and 26, 2026.

Building With Partners

The outreach was supported by founder Biola Akinyemi, N28 Consulting Limited and Abeke’s Garri, as well as healthcare professionals, volunteers and community leaders involved in mobilising residents and delivering the programme.

For the Foundation, the experience also demonstrates that sustainable community healthcare cannot be built by one organisation alone. It requires communities that participate, healthcare professionals who contribute expertise, businesses that provide resources, philanthropists willing to invest in impact and strategic partners capable of supporting long-term systems.

The Foundation said the outreach reinforced the need for such sustained collaboration and its objective of making basic healthcare more accessible across Ijebu North.

The August outreach therefore represents more than another medical intervention. It is part of the Foundation’s attempt to understand community healthcare needs more deeply, respond to immediate gaps and begin building a structure through which healthcare support can continue after the outreach has ended.

The outreach was a step. The work continues.