By Gabriel Ameh
Ketti Community, Abuja: Hope came alive today in Ketti, a rural community in Abuja, as Impact 23, a non-governmental organization, rolled out a free medical outreach that reached thousands of residents with vital healthcare services.
The initiative, which drew a large turnout, offered treatments ranging from malaria and fever management to surgical consultations, eye care, and general health education. The outreach is part of Impact 23’s wider mission to bring healthcare closer to underserved Nigerians and promote community-driven solutions to pressing social challenges.
Speaking during the exercise, Mr. Pat Paul Olubo, Executive Director of Impact 23, explained the inspiration behind the outreach:
“The government cannot do everything. To us, this is another way of helping and reaching out to Nigerians who feel hopeless. Impact 23 is about sharing love, and we chose Ketti because we noticed the urgent need for medical attention here. Many residents are battling common illnesses like malaria, yet they lack access to proper healthcare. We are here to change that.”
Olubo stressed that the outreach was fully funded by members and supporters of Impact 23 within Nigeria, not foreign donors, as part of its drive to “change the narrative” about aid.
“When people think of NGOs, they often imagine foreign donations. We want Nigerians to know we can solve Nigeria’s problems ourselves. Everything about this outreach is homegrown, and it shows that collective action works.”
He called on government and other NGOs to strengthen partnerships that will expand access to healthcare in rural areas:
“It is not a one-man job. The government has its agenda but cannot be everywhere. If we do our part, and others do theirs, we can build healthier, stronger communities together.”
Voices from Impact 23 Leadership
Pastor Segun Adewale, Director of Impact 23, also spoke on the significance of the outreach, emphasizing that healthcare is a basic human right that should not be denied because of poverty.
“What we are doing here is not charity it is justice. Every Nigerian deserves access to medical care, whether they can afford it or not. By bringing doctors, nurses, and other professionals here, we are not only treating people, we are giving them hope.”
He noted that Impact 23’s vision goes beyond health to include hunger eradication, youth empowerment, and sustainable community development.
Similarly, Mrs. Farayibi Funke, Welfare Officer of Impact 23, highlighted the human angle of the outreach:
“When you see a mother relieved because her child’s fever has been treated, or an elderly person smiling after receiving free eyeglasses, you understand the power of compassion. This is why we do what we do. It’s about touching lives in practical ways.”
Broader Impact
Since its founding just three years ago, Impact 23 has organized similar outreaches in Delta and Edo States, with thousands benefiting from free healthcare and other social interventions.
In Ketti alone, the group targeted a minimum of 5,000 residents during today’s exercise. For the organization, this is only the beginning of a long journey of service to communities across Nigeria.
As residents returned home with medicines, eyeglasses, and renewed hope, the message from Impact 23 was clear: Nigerians can solve Nigeria’s problems together.
