By Ifeanyichukwu Ibe
Ngor-Okpala, Imo State — Thousands of residents across Imo State have benefited from free healthcare services as the American Initiative for Health and Wellness in Africa (AIHWA) marked its 10th anniversary with a three-day humanitarian outreach and unveiled a new eye-care programme for school children.
The anniversary celebration, which began on Wednesday, June 16, at the AIHWA Hope Center near Sam Mbakwe International Airport, showcased a decade of healthcare intervention across Africa through free medical consultations, examinations and treatment for beneficiaries from different communities.
The aihwa Hope Center houses the organisation’s integrated healthcare facilities including aihwa Integrated Medical Clinic, aihwa Vision Care, aihwa Diagnostics and aihwavita.
A major highlight of the celebration was the official launch of “AIHWA Eye Care for School Children,” a long-anticipated initiative aimed at improving eye health among pupils and students through free screenings and early intervention.
According to the organisation, the programme was developed following research findings indicating that poor eye care and inadequate awareness among parents and teachers significantly affect children’s academic performance.
The initiative commenced in two schools — TTC Practising School, Irete, in Owerri West Local Government Area and Great Diamond High School, Egbu, in Owerri North Local Government Area — where pupils, students and teachers received free eye examinations, treatments and professional consultations.
Speaking at the event, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AIHWA International, Rev. Fr. Dr. Kenny Udumka, CSSp, said the organisation was established to deliver holistic healthcare that responds to physical, mental and emotional well-being, particularly for underserved populations.
“Today, we celebrate 10 years of AIHWA International, a nonprofit organisation founded in 2016 to meet the health needs of Africans through an integrated and holistic healthcare model,” he stated.
Fr. Udumka reflected on the organisation’s journey over the last decade, highlighting achievements in primary healthcare delivery, eye-care interventions, mental health support, financial assistance for indigent patients in various hospitals, healthcare education, professional training and sustained free medical outreach programmes.
Also speaking, the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Okigwe, Dr. Mrs. Emily Akuabia Nzeribe, praised AIHWA’s humanitarian contributions and called on more organisations to invest in improving access to healthcare. She further expressed readiness for future collaboration between AIHWA and FMC Okigwe.
The host traditional ruler, Eze Geoffrey Okoro, described the anniversary as a celebration of service and impact, commending the organisation for bringing healthcare closer to the people.
Beneficiaries of the outreach also expressed appreciation to AIHWA for easing the burden of accessing quality medical care amid prevailing economic realities.
Among them, Mr. Emmanuel Nwachukwu, Evangelist Beatrice Chigozie and Mrs. Oluchi Opara commended the initiative for offering relief and expanding healthcare access.
At TTC Practising School, Irete, Chairman of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), Imo State Chapter, Dr. Patrick Iwuchukwu, emphasized the relationship between healthy vision and academic success.
He noted that eye health among children remains under-prioritised despite its importance and applauded AIHWA for introducing an initiative that aligns with the association’s “Anya Ndi Imo Dimma Project.”
Explaining the vision behind the programme, Fr. Udumka said the organisation recognised the challenges many learners face due to undiagnosed vision conditions and designed the outreach to promote early detection, treatment and awareness.
The Headteacher of TTC Practising School, Mrs. Ezinwanne Nwokeogu, described the intervention as timely and impactful. She added that the programme which she described as unprecedented would take away the financial burdens of accessing medical treatments from the beneficiaries.
Similarly, the Proprietress of Great Diamond High School, Egbu, Mrs. Fidelia Uhuegbe, thanked AIHWA for extending the outreach to her school, noting that many students and teachers had long needed such support.
For many of the beneficiaries, the outreach represented more than free healthcare — it offered renewed hope and reaffirmed AIHWA’s commitment to accessible, compassionate and community-driven healthcare delivery across Africa.
