At least 25 foreign doctors from the United States, Canada, and France are participating in a free medical outreach sponsored by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda.
The two-week outreach, which kicked off on Monday at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), aims to complement President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s healthcare reforms by extending medical services to vulnerable and underserved communities across Plateau state.
Yilwatda, while flagging off the exercise, said the intervention will run simultaneously in Vom Christian Hospital, Vom, and Sunnah Hospital, Angwan Rogo, with JUTH serving as the coordinating centre.
He said the programme was part of efforts to strengthen medical access for rural communities, adding that the outreach would focus on surgeries and specialized treatments.
“I appreciate all our partners and donors from the U.S., Canada, and France for their support,” Yilwatda said.
“They didn’t just send materials but came in person to ensure Nigerians benefit directly. We’ve already conducted similar outreaches in the Southern and Central zones, and this phase targets the Northern zone with more advanced procedures,” he added
He disclosed that the visiting medical teams came with specialized equipment to handle referral cases such as heart surgeries and hip replacements.
Nentawe added that Nigerian doctors and nurses, he added, would also receive hands-on training during the exercise.
“The idea is not just to perform surgeries and return abroad,” he explained, “but to transfer skills and strengthen local capacity for long-term impact.”
Team Lead, Dr. Emeka Anyanwu, said the outreach covers five specialties — trauma, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, and general surgery, expressing optimism that most cases would be attended to within the period.
A statement from the APC chairman’s office said the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s health sector reforms, including the revitalization of 6,500 primary healthcare centres, expansion of health insurance, and provision of free dialysis services.
Blueprint reports that this is the second phase of Yilwatda’s medical mission, following similar programmes in Plateau’s Central and Southern zones.
The APC said plans are underway to extend the initiative to other geopolitical zones as part of its corporate social investment projects.
