By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has offered lifesaving medical interventions to over 8,000 people for free in Cross River State.
The free medical outreach which lasted for five days (24 to 28 November 2025), saw a team of doctors, nurses, surgeons, and other health personnel deliver free quality healthcare in the areas of dentistry, eye care, obstetrics and gynaecology, surgeries, laboratory investigations, and general medical consultations.
Held at the Calabar Women and Children Hospital in Calabar, the state capital, the outreach came at a time when the Resident Doctors are on strike.
The total interventions delivered were 8,479, according to the medical statistics released to journalists at the close of the programme by the medical personnel.
According to the record, there were 1,543 consultations, 74 eye surgeries, 799 general eye care, 331 eyeglasses issued, 104 operating room (OR) procedures, 92 OR patients, and 228 health promotion sessions.
Others include 1,561 pharmacy services, 795 laboratory patients, 3,441 aboratory investigations conducted, 183 dental patients and 566 dental procedures.
Speaking during the outreach, the NDDC Representative for Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, PhD, commended the Commission’s management and the medical volunteers for their diligence and humanitarian spirit.
He emphasised that the NDDC remains committed to improving the well-being of the people and will continue investing in programmes that deliver real value at the grassroots.
Duke further encouraged residents to take advantage of similar interventions as the Commission expands its health outreach across the region.
Converseer reports that the beneficiaries also received free medications, health education, and personal counselling on prevention and wellness. They expressed appreciation to the NDDC, describing the intervention as both “timely and life-saving,” especially for families struggling with economic challenges.
The outreach was organised as part of activities marking the NDDC’s 25th anniversary and aligns with the Commission’s renewed mandate to enhance public welfare and strengthen healthcare delivery across the Niger Delta region.
It was conducted in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative, ECEWS, CSDON, Calabar Women and Children Hospital, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), among others.
