By Ayomide Otitoju
The NNPC/Heirs Energies JV OML 17 Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) has launched a Free Medical Outreach Initiative to improve healthcare access for residents in the OML 17 area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The initiative spans 15 centres across communities including Umuechem, Igwuruta, Mgbodo-Alu, Eneka, Rumukurishi, Oyigbo, Iriebe, Umuebulu, Umuokwa, Odagwa, Egwi, Elelewon, Ozuoba, and Rumuigbo. It offers free medical consultations, health education, wellness counseling, dental and eye care, and surgical services, targeting approximately 4,500 beneficiaries to address both urgent and preventive health needs.
Ahead of the flag-off ceremony in Umuechem, His Royal Majesty, King Dr. Samuel Amaechi, Chairman of the HCDT Board of Trustees, emphasized the initiative’s importance as a foundation for sustainable development. He also commended the support of NNPC and Heirs Energies in making the outreach possible.
“This medical outreach demonstrates our commitment to community well-being. Access to basic healthcare is vital for development, and this initiative reinforces the Trust’s role as a responsive and compassionate institution,” King Amaechi said.
The outreach is part of the Trust’s broader mission to implement sustainable, community-driven development programs aligned with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Healthcare teams—including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, surgeons, and dentists—have been deployed across the communities, supported by local volunteers and leaders to ensure effective service delivery and broad impact.
