Individuals are motivated or inspired to start various ventures for different reasons. While some people want to take charge of their lives, pursue their interests and build wealth, others want to develop solutions to address pressing social issues. These are the social entrepreneurs. They explore or spot business opportunities that can positively impact their immediate environment and the world at large. Victory Ifeanyichukwu Uzoma is one such entrepreneur.
Uzoma, a Doctor-in-training at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, has been immensely contributing towards public healthcare in Nigeria, ensuring that Nigerians have easy access to healthcare services. As the co-founder of Parkers Mobile Clinic and a public health advocate, Uzoma and her team are focused on solving the problem of poor access to quality healthcare services. They provide medical help at the doorstep of people, especially in rural areas. Parkers mobile clinic, founded in 2018, administers services in areas such as blood pressure and blood sugar measurement care of the elderly at home, treatment of basic illnesses at home, wound dressing, follow-up after discharge from the hospital and basically any other healthcare services a client would need at home. The Mobile Clinic targets rural dwellers, the old and those who are very busy which is indeed an innovation in the healthcare industry in Nigeria.Â
The young social entrepreneur, Uzoma, is passionate about improving the health care system in the country. Aside from being at the helm of affairs of Parkers mobile clinic, she has worked with notable organizations like Nigerian Medical Students Association (NIMSA), The Medvocacy Initiative for Africa (TMI Africa) and Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) by organizing medical outreaches, health seminars and social media health awareness campaigns.Â
As a result of her commitment to community development, she was selected as an UNLEASH Global Innovation Talent as well as a Millennium Fellow, class of 2021. In addition, she has led several projects with various organizations over the years, she has also attended exchange programs across Nigeria for training in Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship and Personal Development.Â
Why Victory Ifeanyichukwu’s Work Matters
As technology advances in leaps and bounds, so should medical services and delivery. With mobile clinics, primary healthcare is made accessible and prompt since appointments and wait times are cut down significantly. Furthermore, convenience is a major advantage because people who live in rural settlements are not left out when it comes to healthcare and they do not have to make long trips to a local hospital. This can save lives.
The idea of mobile clinics ought to be heavily funded because many people are dependent on public hospitals which are usually overcrowded and slow but with the introduction of mobile medical facilities, immediate solution to providing quality, accessible and convenient healthcare, irrespective of patients’ location, is guaranteed.
