Thousands of residents across Taraba State have benefited from the Renewed Hope Free Medical and Surgical Outreach 2026 as the humanitarian initiative entered its second day, delivering free healthcare services to vulnerable communities across the state.
The outreach, organised to commemorate the 58th birthday of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, is providing free medical consultations, laboratory investigations, medications, specialist care and surgical services to residents who would otherwise be unable to afford treatment.
Across Sunkani, Bali, Gembu, Takum, Bambur and Wukari, large crowds of men, women, children and elderly residents thronged designated healthcare facilities from the early hours of the day to receive treatment from teams of doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and other medical professionals.
Visits to the Primary Health Care Centre in Sunkani and other participating facilities revealed heavy patient turnout, with many beneficiaries describing the programme as a timely intervention amid rising healthcare costs and limited access to specialist medical services in rural communities.
Many of the beneficiaries said the outreach had not only eased their financial burden but also restored hope for residents who have long struggled to access quality healthcare.
Mrs Deborah Isah, who received treatment for malaria and typhoid at the Sunkani centre, expressed gratitude to the organisers for bringing healthcare services closer to ordinary citizens.
“I thank Professor Nentawe Yilwatda for remembering people like us. I pray God grants him wisdom, good health and greater success,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mr Abubakar Ahmed, a farmer treated for typhoid, stomach-related ailments and eye problems, said the intervention had spared many rural families the high cost of medical care.
He commended the organisers for taking healthcare directly to underserved communities and urged sustained collaboration between government and humanitarian organisations to improve healthcare delivery across Taraba State.
Miss Dorcas Ephesians, who sought treatment for persistent abdominal pain, praised the professionalism and compassion of the medical personnel, while calling on the Taraba State Government to expand partnerships that would guarantee vulnerable residents regular access to quality healthcare.
Speaking at the Sunkani centre, the outreach team leader, Dr Williams Golis, said the programme was purely humanitarian and designed to provide quality healthcare without discrimination.
“This medical outreach is non-political and non-religious. Our priority is to provide quality healthcare through advanced specialist consultations, appropriate medical treatment and surgical interventions for everyone who needs them,” he said.
The three-week medical intervention is expected to reach thousands of residents across Taraba’s three senatorial districts.
Its first phase, running from August 3 to 7, is being conducted simultaneously at six facilities: the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; General Hospital, Takum; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; Bambur General Hospital; and the Primary Health Care Centre, Sunkani.
Organisers said the official flag-off ceremony will take place on August 8, coinciding with Professor Yilwatda’s birthday, while the second phase, scheduled for August 8 to 22, will shift to the Federal Medical Centre and the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Jalingo, where patients requiring advanced specialist consultations and complex surgical procedures will receive treatment.
Healthcare experts said the initiative demonstrates the critical role of humanitarian interventions and public-private partnerships in expanding access to healthcare, particularly in underserved rural communities.
They, however, stressed that while the outreach has provided immediate relief to thousands of residents, sustained investment in primary healthcare centres, specialist hospitals and affordable medical services remains essential to addressing Taraba State’s long-term healthcare needs.
