Mission Trip Offers Health Access to Nigerian Community

January 15, 2025

By Nadia Smith

When Fr. Joseph Monkom Ayima, the guild chaplain for the Phoenix Guild, learned of his mother’s untimely death, he set out to honor her memory in the best way he knew how – He organized a mission trip to his hometown community. His mother, Rose Anime Ayima (1959-2023) was a matriarch of the Igodor community in the Ogoja local government area of Cross River State, Nigeria and dedicated her life to community development.

As Father Ayima explained, “My mother died after a hernia operation on July 2, 2023. It was described as a result of medical malpractice and negligence. My mother’s death is one out of the many cases of medical malpractice and negligence in developing and underdeveloped countries like Nigeria. Rural communities often suffer a similar fate as a neglected orphan child when it comes to the distribution of health care priorities. With dwindling and mismanaged government funding, poverty and economic inequalities work hand-in-glove with cultural and social barriers to hinder rural folks from seeking health care. And the few who seek help are faced with inadequate health facilities, chronic shortage of essential supplies, and insufficient number of health care personnel, among other setbacks.”

This is the case for his own hometown community, and like any other rural community, Father believes it is a “great opportunity for nongovernmental and philanthropic interventions to reduce the health care access gaps.”

Father Ayima first began by having focused discussion among the leadership of Ogoja Catholic Diocese, the Igodor community and the sponsors and donors. As a result, he raised the fund, obtained the medication and medical materials needed and worked with local physicians to provide the services.

The medical outreach proved very necessary and successful. From the data collected, 755 people (440 males and 315 females) accessed one or more services. Of the 239 children seen, 150 received a simple medication for deworming. Half of the 30 people tested for Malaria were positive and subsequently treated. Others were treated for abnormal blood sugar and abnormal blood pressure. Women were also referred for further evaluation for abnormal pap test results. Thirty-five people received prescription glasses for their refractive errors, while 21 individuals were referred for cataract or glaucoma surgery.

Overall, Father Ayima was happy with the results of this medical outreach that honored a great woman of faith and of the community. He will be sharing more about the experience at the next Medical Mission Interest Group Meeting by Zoom on

 January 20, 2025 at 8:30 PM ET. These talks usually are about 15-20 minutes of presentation followed by 15-20 minutes of Q&A and take place three to four times per year. Please sign up for Fr. Ayima’s presentation here. A Zoom link will be sent prior to the event.