Pro-Health International and Pistis Foundation Bring Hope and Healing to Thousands Through UBOMI 2026 in Ibadan
For many people, accessing quality healthcare is not simply about finding a hospital. It is a question of affordability. The cost of a medical consultation, essential medication or life-changing surgery can mean living with a condition that could otherwise be treated.
From September 21–25, 2026, Pro-Health International Africa partnered with Pistis Foundation to bring free, quality medical and surgical services to underserved communities in Ibadan, Oyo State, through the UBOMI 2026 Medical and Surgical Outreach.
UBOMI, meaning “Life” in Xhosa, is Pistis Foundation’s flagship healthcare intervention. Since its establishment in 2019, the initiative has worked to address barriers to healthcare through partnerships with medical institutions, healthcare professionals and volunteers. The Ibadan outreach marked an important milestone: UBOMI’s first expansion beyond Lagos.
Across five days, 3,611 beneficiaries were reached through 10,292 free medical interventions.
Bringing care closer to the community
Working alongside Pistis Foundation and other partners, Pro-Health International served as technical partner in delivering general medical consultations, laboratory investigations, dental and pharmaceutical services, eye care and surgeries, general and specialist surgical procedures, health education and other essential interventions. Shekinah Global Healthcare Foundation served as surgical partner and co-sponsor.
The outreach included support for people arriving to receive care, with teams and volunteers helping connect community members to services throughout the programme.
Among the outreach’s significant achievements were 100 cataract surgeries, carried out with support from the University College Hospital (UCH) Ophthalmology Department and the UCH Ibadan Class of ’85 Alumni. For beneficiaries, these procedures offered an opportunity to regain sight and improve quality of life.
Beyond the numbers are people whose lives have been affected by years of untreated medical conditions. One beneficiary, Adegbola Aderigbigbe, had previously sought treatment but was discouraged by the cost of surgery. She recalled crying when she learned how much the procedure would cost. When she later heard that UBOMI offered free surgery, that financial burden gave way to joy and renewed hope. After her surgery, she expressed gratitude to the team and everyone whose contributions made the intervention possible.
Another beneficiary, Gloria Okwunwa, travelled from Benin City to Ibadan after enduring months of complications associated with fibroids. The cost of surgery had put treatment beyond her reach. Through UBOMI, she received the surgical intervention she needed, bringing relief and renewed hope for her health and future.
These experiences remind us that behind every medical intervention is a person, a family and a future that can be changed when healthcare becomes accessible.
Engaging traditional leadership and strengthening community partnerships
As part of activities surrounding the outreach, a delegation led by Pistis Foundation Executive Director Leonard F. Thomas, alongside Pro-Health International Africa Founder and Executive Director Dr. Iko Ibanga, Shekinah Global Healthcare Foundation Founder Dr. Adeolu Adeboye and other partners, paid a courtesy visit to His Royal Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Adewolu Akanmu Ladoja, Arusa I, the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The delegation met with the Olubadan and members of the traditional institution to introduce the UBOMI initiative, explain the objectives of the medical intervention and recognize the role traditional leadership can play in community mobilization and connecting underserved people with essential healthcare.
Amplifying the message of accessible healthcare
The programme also featured a press conference and media engagement, where journalists spoke with medical teams and beneficiaries and heard about the importance of sustained investment in accessible healthcare.
During the official opening, Pistis Foundation Executive Director Leonard F. Thomas emphasized the need to bridge the gap between demand for quality healthcare and the financial barriers that keep people from receiving it. Dr. Iko Ibanga highlighted the impact of the partnership over the years, particularly in providing surgical care and other essential services to underserved communities. Oyo State Commissioner for Health Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi commended the intervention and its contribution to government efforts to improve healthcare access.
A shared commitment to service
For Pro-Health International, this outreach reflects a mission that has guided its work since 1991: providing quality healthcare and hope to poor and less privileged communities through voluntary service, compassion and the love of Christ.
We extend special thanks to Pistis Foundation for funding the project and making these medical and surgical interventions possible. We also appreciate The Elevation Church, Shekinah Global Healthcare Foundation, our medical and institutional partners, donors, healthcare professionals and volunteers, whose commitment, generosity and expertise contributed to the outreach.
Special appreciation goes to the UCH Eye Surgery Team, led by Dr. Tunde Ologundudu, for its dedication and expertise in the 100 cataract surgeries performed during the outreach. Its selfless service reflects the compassion and excellence that continue to drive our mission.
As we continue our journey to improve the health of Africa’s people, UBOMI Ibadan 2026 reminds us what becomes possible when organizations and individuals unite around a shared commitment to humanity. Healthcare should be within reach of everyone who needs it.
Together, we will continue reaching communities, restoring hope and transforming lives.
Pro-Health International Africa — Improving Health. Transforming Lives.