By Esther Onyegbula

In a decisive effort to tackle healthcare gaps and food insecurity in hard-to-reach communities, the Operation Feed Africa Initiative (OFA) at the weekend delivered free medical services and food items to residents of Oko Ata, a remote riverine community in Lagos State, under its flagship humanitarian outreach, Project Hope 5.0.

The intervention, held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, brought critical healthcare services and food support to dozens of vulnerable households in the community, which is accessible only by boat and has remained largely underserved due to its challenging terrain and limited social infrastructure.

According to the Executive Director of the Operation Feed Africa Initiative, Boluwatife Akinpelu, Project Hope 5.0 was designed to address pressing health needs while also mitigating hunger among marginalised populations, particularly during the festive season. The initiative was implemented in partnership with Larsen Advocacy, whose Bank 200 Project complemented the outreach with social awareness and youth-focused empowerment activities.

Esteri Life Connection Foundation also supported the intervention by providing food boxes distributed to members of the community.

Medical services provided during the outreach included blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, dental checks, consultations with medical doctors, and access to essential drugs through on-site pharmacy services.

Akinpelu said the services enabled early detection of ailments, immediate treatment, and basic health education for residents who rarely have access to formal healthcare.
In addition to the medical outreach, food packs were distributed to 50 vulnerable households in the community to cushion the impact of rising food costs and seasonal hardship.

She noted that the programme aligns with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2 on Zero Hunger, Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-being, Goal 10 on Reduced Inequalities, and Goal 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.

Larsen Advocacy, through its Bank 200 Project, focused on addressing social issues such as sexual violence awareness and skills acquisition for youths, a move organisers said was aimed at promoting long-term community resilience beyond immediate relief.

Residents of Oko Ata expressed appreciation for the intervention, describing it as timely and life-changing, given the absence of basic health facilities and limited economic opportunities in the area.

The Project Manager of the Operation Feed Africa Initiative, Otun Islamiyah, said, “We have plans to expand subsequent editions of Project Hope by strengthening logistics frameworks, improving collaboration with partners, increasing the scope of medical services, and introducing follow-up mechanisms to ensure sustained impact in beneficiary communities.”

The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to reaching underserved populations across Nigeria, noting that Project Hope 5.0 reflects its broader mission to promote dignity, health, and food security among the country’s most vulnerable groups.