By Juliet Umeh

A United States-based medical mission team, Lifted Hands, has announced plans to extend its 2026 free medical outreach programme in Nigeria to all states in the South-East region.

The outreach, which previously covered Anambra, Imo and Abia states, will now include Enugu and Ebonyi states.

The 2026 mission will mark the sixth edition of the medical outreach initiative in Nigeria since its inception in 2020.

The mission was founded by the family of the late Chief Nelson Obiefuna Okaro in honour of their late mother, Mrs. Akueze Gladys Okaro, as a humanitarian healthcare initiative in memory of the matriarch.

Over the years, the organisers have continued to visit Nigeria with volunteer medical professionals from different fields, including foreign nationals, offering free medical services ranging from diagnosis and treatment to selected surgical procedures.

Speaking in a statement on Monday, the President and Founder of the group, Mr. Moses Okaro, said the 2026 outreach, scheduled for July, would provide general medical consultations, dental care, mental health services, eye surgeries, diagnosis, treatment and selected surgical procedures.

He added that the mission would also offer educational and humanitarian support through scholarships, distribution of school bags, writing materials, clothing and footwear for children and adults.

According to him, medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, walking sticks, blood pressure monitors, glucometers and test strips would also be distributed to beneficiaries during the outreach.

“Our very first and second outings were held in our hometown, Ogidi, Anambra State, where people from across the state received free medical treatment. We later discovered that many participants also came from neighbouring states, and we accommodated everyone.

“In 2024, we expanded to Imo State, and later added Abia State. With the addition of Enugu and Ebonyi, the mission will now cover the entire South-East region.

“Although the mission also serves as a cultural experience for the volunteers from America, we discovered that more people are joining the outreach to both experience Nigeria and render humanitarian services.

“The mission has become a fusion of service to humanity and tourism for the Americans, who enjoy visiting notable places in the country and watching cultural displays such as masquerade performances organised for their entertainment,” he said.

Okaro disclosed that more than 50 volunteers participated in the 2025 mission, while over 80 volunteers, including doctors and nurses, had already registered for the 2026 edition.

“We have also shipped containers of medication and other relief materials intended for distribution to beneficiaries, as we do during every mission.

“Not only do the volunteers offer their services free of charge, many of them also contribute financially to support the foundation.

“We raise funds for the foundation through donations and charitable contributions,” he added.

He urged well-meaning Nigerians to support the initiative by volunteering and assisting in providing healthcare services to underprivileged individuals who cannot afford hospital bills.

Okaro further revealed that the 2026 edition of the outreach would collaborate with Iyom Ogidi to revive and relaunch the Ogidi General Hospital to improve healthcare delivery in Ogidi community and its environs, the hometown of the foundation’s founders.