In a bid to bridge healthcare gaps for vulnerable communities, MediServe, a youth-led health initiative co-founded by Soleeha Musa-Etiko and Joy Ogunsan, has provided free eye screenings, medical consultations, and eyeglasses to over 50 elderly citizens and bus drivers in Lagos.
The outreach, which took place at the Ewenla Motor Park in Oshodi, was supported by leading private healthcare provider MeCure, and aimed at addressing vision related challenges among senior citizens and drivers whose work demands good eyesight.
Beneficiaries not only received on-the-spot eye tests but were also assured of free eyeglasses where required. Many described the initiative as a timely intervention, particularly for those unable to afford regular medical care.
Speaking during the exercise, consultant ophthalmologist Dr. Sunday Alabi of MeCure Eye Center commended the students behind MediServe for their foresight.
“This programme is targeted at elderly people and drivers who rely heavily on their sight. The importance of the human eye cannot be overemphasized—it is the light of the body. What these young girls are doing is remarkable, and its impact will go beyond the motor park to benefit wider communities,” Alabi said.
The initiative was spearheaded by high school students, Soleeha Musa-Etiko, Joy Ogunsan, and Tamilore Adeigbie, alongside team members Precious Adiatu, Michelle Ossai, and Oluwaseun Ogunsan who aspire to become healthcare professionals.
Explaining her motivation, MediServe co-founder Soleeha Musa-Etiko said:
“I wanted to reach out to people in need, and since I’m passionate about medicine, I invited my friends to join me. Eye screening is crucial, especially for drivers, as it reduces the risk of road accidents and makes our community safer.”
Co-founder Joy Ogunsan added that the group was inspired not only by a passion for healthcare but also by a desire to motivate other young girls.
“MediServe is a youth-led initiative providing sustainable healthcare in Nigeria and beyond. We want to inspire other girls to believe they can also impact the world,” she said.
Special guests at the event included Dr. (Mrs.) Ajoke Ogunsan, CEO of Executive Trainer Ltd; Mrs. Musa-Etiko; Mrs. Ossai; Mrs. Adeigbie, as well as leaders of the Ewenla Motor Park, including Chairman and Treasurer Sowunmi Kolawole.
Kolawole praised the effort, noting that many people silently suffer from eye conditions such as cataracts but cannot afford hospital treatment. One beneficiary, Mrs. Akerele Omowunmi, expressed gratitude after receiving her checkup.
“I have had eye complaints for a while, but when I heard MediServe and MeCure were organizing this program, I came. They attended to us for free and promised us glasses. I thank the young ladies and pray for their success in the profession,” she said.
With the success of this inaugural outreach, the young MediServe team reaffirmed their commitment to expanding their initiative to cover broader healthcare needs across Nigeria.