In 2016, the Moses Lake Medical Team (MLMT) performed its medical mission in Kebbi State, a North Western State in Nigeria. The mission took place from October 20, 2016 through November 5, 2016.

This mission was sponsored by the Kebbi state government, under the leadership of the Executive Governor of the state, His Excellency, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. Her Excellency Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, who is the wife of the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, and the founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, was very instrumental in ensuring that everything went well before, during, and after the mission.

This mission was performed at two different locations. Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital in Birnin Kebbi and Zuru General Hospital were the two venue.

The Moses Lake Medical Team had the pleasure of working with some members of another Non-Profit Organization called Pro-Health International. This organization is a Nigerian-based, whose mission is to provide quality healthcare to the less privileged people in Africa, at little or no cost to the recipients. In addition, the local healthcare providers in Kebbi and the neighboring Sokoto States, as well as members of the Nigerian Medical Association, also played significant roles in the success of this mission.

Prior to the commencement of this medical mission, the members of the Moses Lake Medical Team were apprehensive of visiting a Northern Nigerian State because they thought it was a dangerous part of the country. To discover whether the area was safe enough to perform a medical mission, MLMT sent a delegate, consisting of the team President, Lateef Olaniyan, PharmD; Dr. James Irwin, the team Medical Director; Francie Irwin, the Team Vice President; and Mickey Eddie, the team Vice President of Operation, to Kebbi State for a fact-finding exercise.

In December 2015, the fact-finding team travelled to Kebbi State, Nigeria, with an invitation from the State Governor, His Excellency Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. The purpose of the visit was to explore the possibility of carrying out a future medical mission in the state.

While in Kebbi State, the governor of the neighboring state, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, heard about the visit and invited the delegates to stop by his office on the way to Abuja. The team visited with the governor of Sokoto State before catching the flight to Abuja, and then back to the United States.

The visiting MLMT members were convinced that the State of Kebbi is safe and peaceful, and that the team would like to perform a medical mission in the state of Kebbi in the nearest future.

Twenty-five members of the Moses Lake Medical Team took part in this mission. Most team members reside in Moses Lake, Washington. Others came from Maryland, California, and Florida. We also had participants from Canada, Nicaragua, and Chile on the team. The team consisted of different areas of disciplines, including general surgeons, pediatric surgeons, dentists, optometrists, laboratory technologists, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, nurses, and some support staff. With the assistance of the Pro-Health International, we had access to some more general surgeons, optometrists, ophthalmologists, primary care doctors, pharmacists, and laboratory technicians. Some Obstetrics and Gynecologists from the University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto also took part in this mission. Lastly, local healthcare providers, headed by Dr. Kangiwa, who was the mission medical coordinator, provided a great deal of support in during this medical mission. Things would not have run smoothly without the local support that we received, since none of the MLMT members speaks the local Hausa language. The main person behind the success of this mission was Barrister Yakubu Maikyau (SAN). He was the main coordinator.

The Kebbi State government officials, most especially those at the State Ministry of Health, provided us with an unflinching support during the medical mission. The State Commissioner for Health and the Permanent Secretary for Health are worth mentioning for their hard work. The Permanent Secretary in Abuja Mr. Mahmud was also supportive of us. The staffs of the Ministry of Health were always there when we needed them.

All the hospital staff members at both locations where the mission took place were very cooperative with us. We were able to exchange valuable professional ideas with the local providers during this mission.