No fewer than 25 medical professionals from the United States, Canada, and France have arrived Nigeria to participate in a free medical outreach organised by Nentawe Yilwatda, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The two-week programme, launched on Monday at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), will provide medical services across the northern senatorial zone of Plateau state.
Speaking during the flag-off, Yilwatda said the initiative also aims to strengthen local capacity through training and collaboration with Nigerian healthcare workers.
He added that the outreach supports President Bola Tinubu’s healthcare reforms, particularly efforts to expand access to quality care in underserved communities.
“This mission isn’t just about providing treatment.
It is also about equipping local professionals with the skills and tools to sustain these interventions”, the APC national chairman said.
According to him, the outreach will run simultaneously at Vom Christian Hospital in Vom, Sunnah Hospital in Angwan Rogo, Jos, and JUTH in Lamingo.
The visiting team includes specialists in trauma, gynaecology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, and general surgery.
Yilwatda explained that the foreign doctors will also handle referrals from previous outreach programmes in the Southern and Central senatorial zones of Plateau, which included surgeries such as hip replacements and cardiovascular procedures.
Dr Emeka Anyanwu, team lead for the foreign delegation, said the doctors will work to address as many complex cases as possible during the programme.
He added that the doctors brought specialised equipment to support the effort.
Yilwatda also noted that Nigerian healthcare workers will receive hands-on training during the mission, with support extended to nurses, private hospitals, and clinics.
The APC said the outreach is part of a broader social investment initiative by the party.
A statement from the chairman’s office highlighted recent federal efforts in the sector, including the revitalisation of 6,500 primary healthcare centres, free dialysis in pilot hospitals, and the commissioning of new cancer treatment centres.
“This is the second medical outreach led by the APC chairman in Plateau, following earlier phases in the central and southern zones.
“Services provided included free surgeries, maternal and child care, and distribution of medications and eyeglasses,” the statement said.
The party added that similar interventions will be rolled out across the six geopolitical zones in the coming months.
Yilwatda had earlier received the visiting team at Yakubu Gowon Airport in Heipang, where he also inspected medical equipment deployed for the programme.
