The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi (NOHIL), Lagos, in collaboration with Steps2Walk and the Global Health Charity and Training Foundation (GHCTF), has begun a foot and ankle surgical training course and medical outreach aimed at strengthening specialist capacity and expanding access to orthopaedic care.
The programme, which began on Monday, August 10, 2026, combines specialist surgical training with free healthcare services for members of the public. Speaking at the commencement of the programme, NOHIL Medical Director, Dr Wakeel Lawal, hailed the collaborating organisations for supporting specialist training and healthcare delivery.
Lawal said exposure to contemporary global practices would enable participating specialists to transfer the knowledge gained to their respective hospitals and improve access to specialised foot and ankle services across the country.
The surgical course, at the Pavilion Hall, featured international faculty members from the United States, United Kingdom, Trkiye and Pakistan, who delivered lectures and presented clinical cases to participating healthcare professionals.
The training focused on contemporary approaches to the management of foot and ankle conditions ahead of about 30 live surgical procedures scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, and Thursday, August 13.
Representing Steps2Walk, Dr John Lewis Ugbo said the organisation was committed to improving the management of orthopaedic deformities among children and adults in developing countries.
He said Steps2Walk had provided medical supplies and equipment to support the programme and facilitate knowledge transfer.
Ugbo identified congenital clubfoot as one of the significant foot deformities requiring early intervention, noting that about three in every 1,000 births are affected.
He expressed concern over complications associated with neglected or poorly treated deformities in Nigeria and stressed the need for early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and specialist training.
According to him, the programme goes beyond surgical procedures to promote early intervention, skills development and sustainable capacity building.
He also expressed Steps2Walk’s commitment to a long-term partnership with NOHIL through continued training, provision of medical supplies and participation of international specialists in future programmes.
Meanwhile, more than 400 people benefited from the medical outreach held at NOHIL, with about 150 health volunteers supporting the exercise.
Services provided included blood pressure and blood glucose checks, prostate health screening, cholesterol testing, malaria parasite testing, hepatitis B screening and eye examinations.
Beneficiaries also received free medications and were linked to the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme for continued access to healthcare services.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Dayo Lajide, commended Steps2Walk and GHCTF for supporting specialised orthopaedic care in the state.
Also speaking, Dr Adebayo Akintobi, representing GHCTF, commended NOHIL’s leadership and the volunteers involved in the outreach, describing their contribution as important to the delivery of healthcare services to the beneficiaries.
The medical outreach continued on Tuesday, August 11, at the General Hospital, Somolu, where members of the public also accessed free healthcare services.
The programme is expected to strengthen local specialist capacity and improve access to foot and ankle care through continued collaboration between NOHIL and its local and international partners.ac