The Isioma Okobah Foundation, established in 2005 by Dr. (Mrs.) Isioma Okobah, a Medical Doctor based in Georgia, USA, is an international NGO registered in the United States and Nigeria. Its inception served as a platform for societal giving back. The foundation operates as a non-profit organization, dedicated to advancing individual well-being in rural communities. With concrete objectives, it focuses on assisting the less privileged, supporting the physically challenged, empowering widows, and addressing healthcare and educational needs. Over the years, it has made significant strides in fulfilling its mission both in the United States and Nigeria.
Over the decades, the foundation has actively engaged in advocacy visits to rural communities, including Owa Alero, Abavo, Ekuku-Agbor, Emuhu, Igbodo, Ezi, Agbor town, and others. These visits address topics such as the girl child, womanhood, and the welfare of women, children, and the elderly. On an annual basis, the foundation conducts free medical programs for rural residents, providing medications following diagnosis. Dr. (Mrs.) Isioma Okobah, the founder, is deeply committed to enhancing healthcare delivery in rural areas. These communities in Delta State have greatly benefited from these initiatives, showcasing the foundation’s dedication to improving rural health outcomes.
In furtherance of the mandate of the foundation, the founder has also donated hospital equipment and medication to public health institutions in the state on multiple occasions. Beneficiaries of this initiative include the Central Hospital Agbor, Delta State, the Uweifo Orthopedic Hospital Ewuru, Ika South L.G.A. of Delta State, Nigeria and Delta State Ministry of Health, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Rural-based health facilities in different rural communities like Abavo, Owa Alero, Ute Ogboje, Ute-Erumu, Otolokpo, Umunede and Onicha-Ugbo have also benefited from the philanthropic gesture of Dr. (Mrs.) Isioma Okobah. The foundation has also taken advocacy visits to the palaces of traditional rulers in Delta State where free medical diagnosis and drugs were dispensed to persons with health challenges. The foundation promotes education and is concerned about the increasing incidence and prevalence of heart diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS ravaging rural communities. In view of the magnitude of these health issues, the foundation has engaged in free medical health care in rural communities across the state.
The founder Dr. (Mrs.) Isioma Okobah through the foundation also built and equipped an Ultra modern state-of-the-art community health center called Stephen Uche Okoh (Snr.) Memorial Community Health Centre at Igbodo, a rural community in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. The Community Health Centre is named after her late father, Mr. Stephen Uche Okoh (Senior) of blessed memory. The Health Centre which is located at No. 1, Okoh Street, Ndobu Quarters Igbodo, Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria is serving the health needs of the community and other villages within the council area. According to the founder, the community health centre was named after her late father as a deliberate way to immortalize and put the memories of her father in the permanent consciousness of the people as a man who came, saw and conquered. For record purposes, it is pertinent to state that the medical centre has a resident doctor, a qualified matron, nurses and other medical and support staff in the field of medicine. It might interest you to know that the Medical Centre was commissioned by the Deputy Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Professor Amos A. Utuama (SAN) now former, on behalf of the Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan on the 23rd of February, 2013. It was indeed a celebration of some sort as the people of the area came out in large numbers to witness the epoch-making event which was also attended by the Immediate Past Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Chief B.S.C. Elue, the Senator representing Delta North in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chairman Senate Committee on Health and governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections, Dr. Ifeanyi Author Okowa. The ceremony was also witnessed by health professionals, the political class, men and women from all walks of life, the academia and of course members of the fourth estate of the realm. The traditional institution was ably represented by the Traditional Ruler, Obi of Igbodo and his retinue of palace chiefs who added colour pomp and pageantry to the epoch occasion which was the first of its kind in the state.
MEET THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF DIOF
Dr. Isioma Okobah’s journey as a beacon of hope and dedication to humanity spans continents, leaving an indelible mark on countless lives. Graduating from the esteemed University of Benin College of Medicine, Nigeria, she furthered her expertise with a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, Georgia, and a Family Medicine residency at Emory University.
Certified by prestigious institutions including the American Board of Family Medicine, Dr. Okobah’s commitment to healthcare extends beyond clinical practice. She serves as CEO/MD of First Lithonia Medical Center and founder of the Dr. Isioma Okobah Foundation, advocating for healthy lifestyles and providing free medical services through yearly missions to Nigeria’s Delta State and beyond.
Her philanthropic endeavors reach far and wide, extending to the founding of Delta Doctors in Diaspora and the Stephen Uche Okoh Memorial Hospital, both dedicated to providing free healthcare and medication to impoverished communities.
In addition to these endeavors, Dr. Okobah is the CEO/MD of First Delta American Hospital in Asaba, Delta State, furthering her commitment to providing quality healthcare in her homeland.
Dr. Okobah’s impact reverberates in the hearts of those she serves. In Nigeria’s Ika North East Local Government Area, her health center stands as a beacon of hope, offering free healthcare and medication to countless individuals. Through her unwavering dedication, she has reduced mortality rates and improved overall community health.
Believing in the transformative power of education, Dr. Okobah sponsors numerous children in schools within and outside Nigeria, breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering lasting change.
Her humanitarian efforts extend globally, collaborating with local organizations in Guatemala and Honduras to provide medical care and support educational initiatives. Her selflessness and dedication have earned her the admiration of communities worldwide.
Despite accolades, Dr. Okobah remains focused on her mission, driven by compassion and a desire to make a difference. Her impact on the world is immeasurable, inspiring others to join her in the fight for a better tomorrow.
In conclusion, Dr. Isioma Okobah exemplifies true greatness through her dedication to serving humanity. Her tireless efforts in healthcare, education, and philanthropy have transformed countless lives and serve as a testament to the power of compassion and service.
