IWD: Custos Care Foundation Provides Free Medical Care to Women in Enugu
In commemoration of the International Women’s Day 2026, the Custos Care Foundation (CCF), through its flagship Expanded Mama Care Initiative (EMCI), on Saturday organised a large-scale free medical outreach for women and girls at Michael Okpara Square in Enugu.
The outreach, which attracted hundreds of participants from across Enugu State, was aimed at improving access to quality healthcare for women.
Custos Care Foundation, founded by the First Lady of Enugu State, Nkechinyere Iheoma Mbah, focuses on uplifting underserved communities through targeted humanitarian and social interventions.
Speaking during the event, the Managing Director of the foundation, Blessing Egodi Igwe, said the initiative was designed to prioritise the health and well-being of women, who often neglect their own health while caring for their families.
According to her, the outreach was organised to bridge that gap by providing comprehensive and accessible healthcare services.
“As the backbone of society, women frequently prioritise the well-being of others above their own. This intervention ensures that they receive the care and medical attention they deserve,” she said.
Beneficiaries received a range of medical services, including blood pressure checks, blood sugar and diabetes screening, HIV/AIDS testing, malaria testing, hepatitis B screening, eye screening and consultations, as well as free medications.
Eyeglasses were also distributed to mothers experiencing vision challenges.
Participants were first attended to by nurses who checked their vital signs before proceeding to laboratory tests. They were later examined by doctors who prescribed medications, which were dispensed free of charge at the pharmacy.
Patients with eye-related conditions were further attended to by optometrists and opticians who conducted detailed eye examinations and provided eyeglasses and medications where necessary.
The outreach recorded a significant turnout, with hundreds of women receiving medical attention. A total of 230 eyeglasses were distributed to beneficiaries requiring vision support.
Igwe also emphasised the importance of routine health checks, citing the case of a woman whose blood pressure reading was 199/105, a dangerously high level, despite the patient feeling physically well.
She said the woman was immediately placed on medication and advised to continue monitoring her blood pressure.
Medical experts at the outreach noted that untreated high blood pressure is often responsible for sudden deaths sometimes wrongly attributed to spiritual attacks, stressing the need for regular health screening.
The Expanded Mama Care Initiative, a legacy programme of Custos Care Foundation, is built on four key pillars: healthcare access, nutrition and wellness, safe pregnancy and delivery, and post-natal and child care.
The foundation reaffirmed its commitment to improving the well-being of women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups through impactful social interventions.
“This International Women’s Day, we are not just celebrating women; we are investing in their health, strength and future,” the foundation stated.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
