Over 2,000 Benefit from EMT Foundation’s Free Medical Outreach in Delta
By Patience Ikpeme
The Esther Matthew Tonlagha (EMT) Foundation has concluded a comprehensive five-day medical outreach in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, providing free healthcare services and eye surgeries to more than 2,000 residents.
The programme, which drew beneficiaries from numerous communities across the state and surrounding areas, received corporate backing from Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited. This latest intervention adds to the Foundation’s three-year track record of social investments, which include N15 million in grants for 30 women entrepreneurs, medical financing for 200 sickle cell patients, and technical skill funding for students.
Speaking at the closing ceremony in Oporoza, the founder of the EMT Foundation, Dr. (Mrs.) Esther Matthew Tonlagha, explained that the initiative was designed to bridge the gap for individuals facing health challenges but hindered by the high cost of medication and limited access to facilities.
“We decided to create this opportunity because allowing these individuals to continue suffering could be lethal for many,” Dr. Tonlagha stated. She noted that health constraints often incapacitate resourceful citizens from contributing to societal development, regardless of their leadership potential.
The founder expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that the exercise stayed true to the organization’s core mission. “We are so happy that this programme has really come as a blessing and hope restorer for the almost 2,000 beneficiaries that registered for it. EMT Foundation operational thrusts are focused on three pillars of empowerment, access and sustainability,” she said.
Addressing the need for long-term impact, Dr. Tonlagha called for a more integrated approach to rural healthcare. She said, “To consolidate on the gains of this programme, EMT Foundation and others involved in social intervention projects need stronger collaboration with the governments and development partners. Our appeal to governments at all levels is for them to collaboratively complement our initiatives targeted at improving primary health care in the rural communities.”
Beneficiaries who attended the five-day clinic shared accounts of the impact on their lives. Chief Victoria Eguene, a community leader from Gbaramatu Kingdom, praised the Foundation for restoring hope to hundreds of residents who otherwise lacked the means for treatment. “I want to particularly thank the founder, Dr. Esther Tonlagha, for her humanitarian nature from which many of us are benefitting from now,” she said.
Another participant, Mr. Jayman Jemi, an artisan who has battled high blood pressure for five years, described the outreach as a turning point. “With the checkup I did here and the support EMT Foundation has promised to give me, I have very strong hope that my days of joy are just ahead. My experience in this programme clearly proved that mummy Tonlagha is a mother for all,” Jemi remarked.
The Foundation continues to operate under its three-pillar framework. Its empowerment initiatives focus on equipping individuals with tools for leadership, while its access programs ensure that circumstances do not restrict opportunities for the needy. The organization maintains that its sustainability goal is centered on ensuring that today’s interventions create an enduring legacy for future generations.
