Uhunmwode LGA, Diaspora Partners Unveil Renovated Ugomoson Primary Health Centre, Expand Access to Free Healthcare

Official Press Release | Office of the Chairman, Uhunmwode Local Government Council

The renovated facility brings hope, healing, and world-class healthcare to the doorsteps of rural Edo communities.

The Chairman of Uhunmwode Local Government Council, Hon. Austin Rotimi Imafidon (ISIWINA), has commended Nigerians in the Diaspora and development partners for their unwavering commitment to improving healthcare delivery in rural communities following the official unveiling of the Phase One Renovation of the Ugomoson Primary Health Centre.

This commissioning represents a landmark moment in the ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare access in Uhunmwode and across rural Edo State. The intervention underscores the transformative power of strategic collaboration between government at the sub-national level and Nigerians living abroad who remain deeply committed to the development of their home communities.

A High-Powered Convergence of Leadership

The unveiling ceremony attracted a high-powered delegation comprising:

• Nigeria Nurses in Diaspora, led by Pastor Peter Ekhoragbon (Executive President, NABHI)
• Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE), led by Hon. Harold Ogunfemi (Continental Chairman)
• Edo State Diaspora Agency, led by Dr. Lawrentta Ogboro-Okor (Director General)
• Officials of the Uhunmwode Local Government Council

This convergence of federal, state, local, and diaspora leadership illustrates the multi-tiered approach required to deliver lasting healthcare infrastructure in underserved communities.

The Chairman’s Commendation

Speaking during the event, Hon. Austin Imafidon expressed profound appreciation to the donor organizations for investing in the health and wellbeing of the people of Ugomoson and the wider Uhunmwode Local Government Area.

He described the intervention as “a shining example of the impact that strategic collaboration between government and Nigerians in the Diaspora can have on community development.”

The Chairman emphasized that the Uhunmwode Local Government Council views this partnership as a model for sustainable development — one where government provides the enabling environment, and diaspora partners contribute expertise, funding, and global best practices.

“This commissioning represents the very best of what we can achieve when we work together. Our diaspora brothers and sisters have shown that distance does not diminish love for home — and we, as government, will continue to create the conditions for these partnerships to flourish.”

— Hon. Austin Rotimi Imafidon (ISIWINA) Chairman, Uhunmwode Local Government Council

Beyond Renovation: Comprehensive Free Medical Outreach

The Chairman noted that beyond the renovation of the health facility, the visiting medical team conducted a comprehensive free medical outreach for residents. The outreach featured:

• Free health screening for early detection of chronic conditions
• Medical consultations with qualified healthcare professionals
• Treatment of minor ailments with immediate pharmaceutical intervention
• Referral services for patients with more serious health conditions to appropriate healthcare facilities for further management

Additionally, the programme included free eye screening services and the distribution of prescription eyeglasses to beneficiaries, courtesy of the Edo State Diaspora Agency, bringing much-needed relief to many residents with vision challenges.

For many residents, this outreach represented their first access to specialist medical care in years — highlighting the critical importance of mobile health interventions in rural communities.

Government’s Commitment: Security & Solar Power

Visibly impressed by the humanitarian gesture, Hon. Imafidon assured the donor organizations that the Council would complement their intervention by:

• Providing adequate security for the health centre to protect the facility and its equipment
• Installing solar-powered electricity within the shortest possible time to guarantee uninterrupted healthcare services
• Strengthening primary healthcare across Uhunmwode through partnerships with development organizations, non-governmental institutions, and well-meaning individuals

This commitment demonstrates the Council’s understanding that sustainable healthcare infrastructure requires more than initial construction — it requires ongoing government investment in security, power, and maintenance.

A Call to Other Public-Spirited Organizations

Hon. Imafidon further called on other public-spirited organizations and sons and daughters of Edo State, both at home and abroad, to emulate the commendable example set by:

• Nigeria Nurses in Diaspora
• Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE)
• Edo State Diaspora Agency

…by supporting initiatives that promote sustainable community development.

The Chairman’s call reflects a broader recognition that government alone cannot solve the healthcare challenges of rural Nigeria — but when government, diaspora professionals, and local communities work together, transformation becomes possible.

A Significant Milestone for Uhunmwode

The event marked another significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to improve access to quality healthcare in Uhunmwode Local Government Area and underscored the vital role of collaborative partnerships in advancing the health and wellbeing of rural communities.

As the renovated Ugomoson Primary Health Centre begins operations, it stands as a beacon of what is possible when vision meets action — and when the diaspora returns home not just with remittances, but with purpose, expertise, and unwavering commitment to community transformation.