By Dr. Kelechi ONYEMAOBI
Over the last 40 years, while I was fully engaged in the daily struggle to put food on the table, in a very harsh socio-economic and political environment like Nigeria’s, I paid very little attention to the goings-on in my village and, by extension, in my state in Eastern Nigeria.
But now, with a little more time on my hands, and coming to terms with the reality that, ultimately, we are all from the village, indeed, “we are all rural people,” as my boss and teacher, Dr Chidi Amuta, would say, I take a little more notice when something is going very well in my village – or going very badly.
Indeed, ultimately, rural development is a veritable peg for overall national development.
In the Mbieri Community, a village a stone-throw from mine in Imo State, something remarkable is going on – has been going on in the past four years. And the people are rejoicing…
*The Ojiugo Free Medical Organization
The Ojiugo Free Medical Organization (OFMO) in Umueke Village, Umuahii, Mbieri, Imo State, was established by Chief Nwabugo Ubochi, a young chemical engineer with a heart of gold, to help the sick and elderly people in his community to access free medical care.
The OFMO’s maiden Free Medical Outreach commenced in December 2021 at the newly-built Ojiugo Centre, which was commissioned by the then First Lady of Ondo State, Her Excellency, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu.
The OFMO has specialized health care personnel who attend to those in need in the community, especially in the areas of monitoring and treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes and eye related problems – which are some of the major health challenges facing rural dwellers in Nigeria.
Through various advocacy campaigns, the Ojiugo Free Medical Organization also helps to create awareness in the community on better wellbeing and healthy lifestyle changes – with the objective of making a positive difference in the lives of the people.
Chief Nwabugo established the non-profit, non-governmental, non-political organization in honour of his late parents, Chief Simon Ubochi and Mrs Ubochi, as a tool to provide grassroots-based health care and developmental services to the less privileged and vulnerable persons in his community and the wider society.
Although he is not a medical professional, Nwabugo mobilizes his vast array of friends and associates in the medical profession to support and implement his vision of providing free medical services to his people.
Today, the Ojiugo Free Medical Organization, which started as a modest venture four years ago, has over 1,000 registered users, four full time employees and several part-time assistants attending to the users of the facility.
The OFMO runs a daily blood pressure management programme, special eye clinics and doctors’ visitations once every month. The OFMO also maintains a regular supply of UK-procured high blood pressure medications which are given free of charge to the users.
Nwabugo Ubochi affirms that he harbours no political or economic agenda in relation to his establishment and funding of the project. Rather, he is deeply concerned about the wellbeing of the people in his community, given his own personal experiences, his loss of his parents and the current worrying poor health statistical trends in the country.
Although Chief Nwabugo, a chartered engineer, company director and nuclear safety case consultant, lives in the United Kingdom, he returns frequently to Nigeria to attend to the medical needs and social welfare of the vulnerable people in his beloved community.
“It is a thing of joy seeing the tremendous achievements we have made in providing health and social services to our people,” says Nwabugo.
“Walking through the village, I have witnessed a number of occasions where women, men and children call me ‘Ojiugo’, to my greatest surprise. This shows we are really making positive impacts in the community…”
As Chief Nwabugo Ubochi turns 50 this month, it is truly amazing to consider what he has achieved so far at middle age in his personal and professional life – and, indeed, for his community.
In the years ahead, Nwabugo stands poised to achieve even more in his personal and professional life – and to contribute even more to the socio-cultural and economic development of his Mbieri Community in particular, and of Imo State and Nigeria as a whole.
*Dr Onyemaobi is a journalist and a development communications specialist
