A non-governmental organisation, Joyful Rose Health Initiative, has called on the Federal Government and state governments to establish basic healthcare clinics in markets and increase funding for the health sector to improve access to care for traders and other underserved communities.
The Chairperson of the organisation, Mrs Joy Chioma-Nwankwo, made the call during the NGO’s inaugural free health outreach at Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory, where about 200 traders were targeted for medical screening and health education.
Chioma-Nwankwo, a Deputy Director of Nursing at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, said the initiative was inspired by her observation that many traders spend long hours at their shops with little physical activity and often pay inadequate attention to preventive healthcare.
She said such lifestyles could expose traders to conditions including obesity, hypertension and diabetes, stressing the importance of regular medical checks for early detection and treatment.
“What I am proposing for Nigerian governments is that they should do more. They are trying, but some localities have not been touched,” she said.
She specifically advocated the establishment of a clinic within Karu Market, saying traders needed access to a nearby health facility where emergencies could be attended to promptly.
“Even in this market, there is need for them to have a clinic. You never can tell what will happen within a second,” she said.
The nurse, who has over 35 years of professional experience, also urged governments to allocate more resources to healthcare to enable underserved and vulnerable Nigerians to access quality medical services.
She said Joyful Rose Health Initiative was established in May 2025 to help bridge healthcare disparities in underserved communities through preventive healthcare interventions and collaboration.
Nwankwo identified obesity as one of the major health concerns among traders, recalling the death of a trader she knew who had struggled with excessive weight.
She advised traders to avoid prolonged sitting, exercise regularly and adopt healthier eating habits, warning that physical inactivity could contribute to cardiovascular complications.
“Once in a while, you get up, you walk around so that the circulation can flow, so that there won’t be any clotting,” she advised.
The outreach provided free blood pressure, blood sugar, malaria, eye and Body Mass Index checks, while doctors offered medical consultations and referred cases requiring further treatment.
A medical doctor specialising in internal medicine, Dr Somto Chukwu Benson, said the exercise revealed several health concerns among participants, including elevated blood sugar levels, hypertension risks and undiagnosed eye problems.
Benson identified the failure to undergo regular medical check-ups as a major challenge, noting that some people were living with chronic conditions without knowing their health status.
“The common health challenge is actually the disregard for medical check-ups,” he said.
He explained that obesity, hypertension and diabetes were closely linked, adding that excessive weight could increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic complications.
“Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, they all have a link to each other,” Benson said, urging traders to undergo regular medical checks, exercise and pay greater attention to their diet.
The doctor also cautioned against the tendency among some men to avoid hospitals because of perceptions surrounding masculinity, stressing that both men and women required regular medical attention.
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Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the free outreach, saying it provided an opportunity to assess their health without the financial burden associated with hospital visits.
One of the traders, Ugwu Victor Chukwudi, who sells vegetables at the market, urged the organisers to sustain the intervention and called for government support to make such programmes more regular.
“Today they brought check-up in my front, so I’m happy,” he said, adding that many traders might lack the financial means or time to visit hospitals regularly.
Another beneficiary, Blessing Ernest, said the exercise reminded him of the importance of regular health checks, noting that traders often became so occupied with their businesses that they neglected their health.
Joyful Rose Health Initiative said the Karu outreach was its inaugural health mission and would be evaluated to identify gaps and determine areas for subsequent interventions.
The organisation said its activities were aligned with Sustainable Development Goal Three, which promotes good health and wellbeing, with a broader focus on taking preventive healthcare closer to underserved populations.
