The Foundation calls for partnerships to expand health screening in the community

The In Our Mind Foundation (IOM) has called on government health authorities, health institutions and professional bodies to partner with the organization to strengthen community health screening and improve access to adequate healthcare across Nigeria.

The founder of the foundation, Iruoma Obiesie Onuko, also known as “Nurse Angel”, made the appeal during a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, where she presented preliminary results of the foundation’s community screening programme.

According to Onuko, the foundation’s current report shows that 48.74% of recorded blood pressure results fall into the high blood pressure category, while 5.74% fall into the low blood pressure category.

He revealed that the foundation proposes a 12-month program to strengthen existing outreach activities and expand its reach in a measured and responsible manner.

According to her, the initiative would build on the foundation’s community engagement efforts, while strengthening institutional and clinical partnerships to ensure that people screened in their communities can access appropriate health services.

Onuko said the foundation is looking for partners who can contribute technical expertise, resources and institutional support to expand the program and improve service delivery.

He added that the call was aimed at potential partners interested in promoting community health, improving access to screening and strengthening the link between communities and health services.

Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, Onuko said the foundation observed that many Nigerians do not routinely go to hospitals for preventive health checks.

“We want to screen as many people as possible because we have observed that many Nigerians do not go to hospitals for routine health checks.

“Many people seek medical care only when they feel unwell, while others may rely primarily on prayer rather than preventative health care.

“Our goal is to bring health screening closer to people, reaching them where they live and work, including markets, places of worship and other community spaces,” he said.

Onuko explained that the foundation brought health education, free blood pressure and blood sugar checks, referral services and follow-up support directly to communities to encourage early identification of potential health problems and promote access to appropriate care.

He said the foundation’s work has extended beyond healthcare to include mindset development, practical training and business support, aimed at helping people realize their potential and improve their livelihoods.

The founder called on government agencies, healthcare providers, professional organizations and other stakeholders to partner with the foundation in building a more accessible and sustainable community health screening program.