Médecins Sans Frontières says it has provided free healthcare services to no fewer than 73,000 residents of the Akor and Ndibeji communities in Akamkpa, Cross River, over the past three years.

Its spokesman, Abdulkareem Yakubu, made the disclosure in a statement in Calabar on Tuesday.

Mr Yakubu said the services were provided between May 2022 and September 2025, mainly to residents of communities near the Nigerian-Cameroonian border.

He said that, apart from outpatient services, MSF also admitted about 8,000 patients for observation before referring them for further treatment.

The field communication officer further said that the organisation supported 2,123 child deliveries within the period.

“We provided 3,887 antenatal consultations, 5,776 family planning sessions, and administered 9,303 vaccinations. Residents of the communities also received care for other common conditions such as injuries, respiratory infections and typhoid fever,” he said.

Mr Yakubu said that MSF found no fewer than 30,000 cases of malaria in the communities during the period.

He said the project supported two primary health care centres in the communities to bridge the gap in access to medical services.

Yakubu said that beyond patient care, the organisation provided training for local staff, as an investment in the sustainability of healthcare services in the communities.

According to him, the project adopted a community health model, reaching 17 communities through house-to-house health promotion, a higher-level care and follow-up referral system.

“This approach helped us to bridge gaps in health awareness and encouraged timely care-seeking,” he said.

He listed the challenges encountered by the project: poor road networks, difficulties navigating the communities, and distance.

The official stated that thousands of lives had been saved due to the interventions of the organisation.

(NAN)