From cataract to fibroid, patients find free treatment at Ibadan medical outreach

A five-day medical outreach in Ibadan, Oyo State, is providing free consultations, diagnostic services, surgeries and other treatments to patients from the state and neighbouring areas. The Ubomi 2026 programme, from September 21 to 25 at Pistis Hub, included eye, dental, paediatric, obstetric and gynaecological services, as well as general surgery and pharmaceutical support. Organisers said the Ibadan edition was the first time the programme had been held outside Lagos, with a target of reaching more than 5,000 people in the city, GABRIEL OSHOKHA reports

On Tuesday, the courtyard of the Pistis Hub in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State was alive with quiet urgency.

Mothers clutched their children, elderly men leaned on walking sticks, and volunteers moved briskly between makeshift consultation rooms.

The hum of voices blended with the clatter of medical instruments, punctuated by the occasional cry of a child or the reassuring tone of a nurse.

The faint smell of antiseptic hung in the air, mingling with the earthy scent of rain-soaked ground outside. Hope was everywhere – fragile yet palpable – as families waited for their turn under the banner of Ubomi 2026, Pistis Foundation’s flagship medical outreach from September 21 to 25.

For many, this was not just a clinic; it was the difference between despair and deliverance. And within the crowd, three stories stood out – each a testament to courage, resilience, and the transformative power of accessible healthcare.

Sunday Olojede, 89, had lived in a fog for years. Cataracts clouded his left eye, dimming the world into shadows and blurred outlines. Though surgery was possible, fear kept him away from the operating table.

He had resigned himself to a life of partial blindness, relying on memory and instinct to navigate familiar spaces. It took the insistence of his daughter, Adenike Oduola, to change his mind. She pleaded, encouraged, and finally persuaded him to trust the doctors at Ubomi. When he finally agreed, the transformation was immediate.

“He can now see clearly,” Adenike said, her voice brimming with relief.

For Olojede, the world has opened up again – sharp, bright, and full of detail he thought he’d lost forever.

The smile that spread across his face after the bandages came off was proof enough: sight restored, dignity regained.

Gloria Okwunwa, 42, carried a different burden. From Benin City, she traveled to Ibadan with quiet determination, seeking relief from fibroids that had caused months of bleeding and despair. The condition had drained her physically and emotionally, leaving her fearful for her future. Surgery was beyond her financial reach until Ubomi stepped in.

On September 22, she underwent a successful operation.

“I had only one child and longed for more,” she stated, her eyes shining with gratitude.

“With this surgery, I believe I can now have more children.”

For Gloria, the procedure was more than medical – it was the restoration of a dream. She spoke of the joy of holding another child, of the possibility of expanding her family, and of the relief of living without constant pain. Her recovery is ongoing, but her spirit is buoyed by renewed possibility.

Then there was little Fausat Abdulrauf, just 16 months old, recovering from hernia surgery. His father, Teslim, had spent sleepless nights searching for help.

Hospital after hospital turned them away, insisting the boy was too young for surgery.

The swelling worsened, and so did Teslim’s worry. A friend’s tip about Ubomi changed everything.

“I cannot but remain grateful,” Teslim said, his voice breaking with emotion. “My son was operated upon successfully, and my long-time fears have been laid to rest.”

Watching his child rest peacefully after the operation, Teslim described the moment as an answer to prayer. For him, Ubomi was not just a medical outreach – it was a miracle.

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These are just three stories from the thousands who streamed into the outreach centre between September 21 and 25. For them, Ubomi was more than a program – it was salvation. Over the course of the week, the initiative offered general consultations and health screenings, laboratory investigations and diagnostic services, eye care and surgeries, dental procedures, pediatric services, obstetrics and gynecology including surgical care, general surgical interventions, pharmaceutical support, and health education with post-outreach referrals.

The atmosphere was a blend of urgency and compassion. Doctors worked tirelessly, nurses comforted anxious patients, and volunteers guided families through the process. Each corner of the venue told a story – of resilience, of relief, of gratitude.

Since its inception in 2019, Ubomi has delivered nearly 49,000 verified medical interventions, with a remarkable 99% surgical success rate. This year’s edition was powered by partnerships with The Elevation Church (Ibadan and Lagos), Pro-Health International, and medical institutions like Zenithcare Hospital (Oyo State) and Hospital for Trauma and Surgery (HTS Clinics, Lagos State)

For Leonard F. Thomas, Executive Director of Pistis Foundation, the vision is clear.

“Healthcare should never be out of reach simply because someone cannot afford it.”

Thomas added, “UBOMI is in its 10th year, and this is the first time we are taking it outside Lagos and the first time in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. We believe healthcare is a necessity for everyone, but we also believe that not everyone can afford quality healthcare.

“It is not that they do not want it, but accessing it is not affordable for them. With UBOMI, we have come to close the gap by providing quality healthcare to people who cannot afford it, at no cost to them.

“Our supporters and partners have continued to keep faith with us in ensuring that we sustain this outreach, and coming to Ibadan is part of our plan to take it beyond Lagos.

“We are excited with the turnout in Ibadan, and we believe that we can meet the health needs of over 5,000 people before we hold the Lagos edition next month. We have received support from all our partners within and outside the country, and we are hopeful that we can continue with this idea of providing and meeting the health needs of economically disadvantaged individuals and communities across the country.”

Founder and Board Chair of Pistis Foundation and Global Lead Pastor of The Elevation Church, Godman Akinlabi, underscored the broader impact.

“Healthcare is one of the most basic human needs, yet financial constraints and lack of adequate facilities continue to hamper access. Through Ubomi, we are expanding our impact beyond the confines of the church to reach thousands of vulnerable people with critical health services free of charge.”

The Resident Pastor of The Elevation Church, Ibadan, Pastor Oluwaseun Afolayan, said UBOMI was inspired by the Christian teaching of loving one’s neighbour.

According to him, the programme is open to people of all faiths and is designed to meet the healthcare needs of everyone without discrimination.

“This programme is for all faiths, regardless of religion, because our watchword as a church is to meet the health needs of all people without focusing on a particular group.

“It is not political, and since we started on Monday, people of various faiths have benefited and are still benefiting from UBOMI. We hope this will become a continuous initiative for the people of Oyo State. It is open to everybody and comes at no cost,” Afolayan said.

The founder and Executive Director of Pro-Health International, Dr Iko Ibanga, whose organisation has served as the technical partner of UBOMI for the past six years, said the programme had provided a range of surgical interventions, including hernia, eye, fibroid and dental surgeries.

He added that the programme also provides medical care for beneficiaries with other health needs.

“We believe this programme has impacted tremendously on individuals and communities. Coming to Ibadan for the first time is a step forward for UBOMI, and we are glad that we have been able to perform surgeries with a 99 per cent success rate in the last six years,” Ibanga said.

The outreach also drew commendation from Oyo State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, who described the initiative as a complement to government efforts. “I must commend the organisers, especially the Elevation Church, for this kind of initiative that will touch the people directly in their various communities. Even people outside the state are benefiting from it.

As a government, we will continue to support this kind of effort which encourages giving back to the society and this is giving back in action displayed by the Elevation Church,” she said.

This year marked a milestone: for the first time, Ubomi was held in Ibadan, extending its reach beyond Lagos. The target was ambitious – 10,000 beneficiaries across both cities – but behind every number lies a story like Olojede’s, Gloria’s, and Fausat’s: stories of sight regained, hope restored, and childhood saved. The outreach was not just about numbers; it was about faces, families, and futures. Each patient represented a victory against the odds, a triumph of compassion over neglect.

Beyond healthcare, Pistis Foundation continues to broaden its social impact. Its PF Scholars program has awarded scholarships to over 1,000 students across 22 states, while the Kids-Off-The-Street (KOTS) Shelter provides care and rehabilitation for vulnerable children. Together, these initiatives embody the Foundation’s mission: to stand in the gap for the underserved, offering health, education, and shelter where they are most needed.

As the medical outreach ends on Friday, patients will take home medications, instructions, and above all, hope. Ubomi 2026 reminds Nigeria’s underserved communities that they are not forgotten, that their health matters, and that compassion can indeed be scaled.