Our Medical Mission

In February 2011, we returned from our medical mission trip to Ibiasogbe, Nigeria also known as Ibi. This trip had two purposes. The first was to provide basic medical care to the people of the village. The second – to complete a needs assessment and determine what the villagers felt they needed in the way of health services. The goal was to leave with the knowledge and motivation necessary to return and begin our fund raising campaign. As ultimately, we intend to establish an outpatient medical clinic in Ibiasogbe. The mission was a success. During our two weeks in the village, we were able to provide care and distribute medication to 562 patients. Additionally, we spoke with many of the villagers and conducted over 50 formal taped interviews. Through our efforts, it became clear that hypertension, diabetes, pediatric malnutrition, arthritis, maternal/infant complications were disturbingly prevalent. And this is only a sampling of the various medical ailments that plagued this rural and woefully medically underserved population.

Our medical clinic was held in the local Maternity clinic which we found in great disrepair and for want of a better term, dilapidated. After minor repairs of the ceiling and the stairs and a thorough sweeping, we set up camp in the clinic veranda. In one corner was the gynecologist’s exam space which consisted of an old bed with a foam mattress and shower curtains as the enclosure. In another corner was the pediatrician’s exam space which consisted of no more than a table and two chairs. The other two corners housed the exam spaces of the family physicians also consisting of a table or bench and two chairs. In between the exam areas was the pharmacy where volunteers helped count the prescribed medications. While the long porch proved to be multipurpose, serving as a waiting area, as well as the registration and nursing triage stations.

We left the village feeling very fulfilled as we saw that the little we did made a great impact on the lives of the people. And we left also realizing that there is much more work to be done and many more people to be seen. A village of 8,000 to 10,000 people is deserving of more than a mere two week mission, and it is for this reason that we seek to establish a permanent clinic.

We were inspired and motivated to move forward with the fundraising and the establishment of the Ibi Peoples Clinic (Clinik Ndi Ibi,) a nonprofit community clinic.

Since then, we have made a second medical mission trip in March 2014 and this time served 789 patients. We have successfully raised enough money and have completed the foundation for the Ibi People's Clinic building.

More than ever, we are inspired and compelled to making health care available to the people of Ibiasogbe Village.

- Dr. Veronica