MWAN, Rivers State History - Medical Women's Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch

HISTORY

MWAN Rivers State

The Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch was birthed in 1985. The Initiator, Dr Bernadette T Korubo, without prior knowledge of the existence of such a body in Nigeria, while relaxing with an Italian friend and professional colleague, Dr Maria Corona Onyeonu, mooted the idea of bringing all the female doctors in Port Harcourt together under an umbrella of friendship and fellowship.

Her friend informed her that such an association of female doctors existed in her country and the idea became a reality with a tea party held in Dr Onyeonu's clinic, to which most of the female doctors residing in Port Harcourt were invited. Attendance was encouraging and consequently the body with the name, “Medical Women's International Association” Rivers State Branch was formed. The State Branch at its meeting held an election in which the executive emerged with Dr Tumini Blue-Jack Wilcox as pioneer President.

The State Branch became aware of the National body when there was an advertisement for the 4th Biennial National Conference of the Medical
Women’s Association of Nigeria, billed to take place in Benin in the then
Bendel State.
Some members of the Executive were mandated to attend the 4th Biennial Conference, where they met with the then National President, Dr Clara A k e l e . S h e w a s i n v i te d a n d subsequently visited Port Harcourt and inaugurated the State Branch on the 2nd of March 1985 at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt. After this, the name was changed to “Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Zone”.
The pioneer members included the following female doctors:
• Dr Tumini Blue-Jack Wilcox –President
• Dr C.I. Abam – Vice President
• Dr. M. Krukrubo – Secretary
• Dr. C.N. Masi – Assistant Secretary
• Dr. N. Akani – Financial Secretary
• Dr L. George – Treasurer
• Dr M. Banigo
• Dr T. Martins-Yellowe
• Dr M. Corona-Onyeonu
• Dr A.U. Nwigwe
• Dr O.P Adudu
• Dr I. Banigo
• Dr S. Egbejimba
• Dr B. Braide
• Dr T.I.N. Tasie
• Dr E. Diette-Kok

• Dr I. Sharma
• Dr N.P. Offor
• Dr S.O. Chijioke
• Dr A. Onwumechili
• Dr C. Ogbeifun
• Dr F. Ajie
• Dr U. J. Essiet
• Lt. Col. Osusanya
• Dr E. Ukabiala
• Dr J. Omojola
• Dr C. Orubo
DIRECTORS
• Dr K.W. Hakim
• Dr I.A. Akuiyibo
• Dr B. Korubo
• Dr H. Ivanoska
PATRONS
• Chief D. Graham-Douglas
• Dr A.A. Ibiama
• Mrs L.U. Ogali
• Mrs Pepple
The pioneering work of this executive led to its recognition by the State Government as it was the first female professional body to be formed in the
State. It challenged other female professionals who soon followed suit to form theirs.
The executive made concerted efforts to secure of different executive, has carried out various activities on its own and in collaboration with other NGOs. These include:

• Charity walks to raise funds to enable the Association to run free clinics at the Remand Homes, Children’s Homes and Motherless Babies Home.
• Health campaigns on various health issues including female genital mutilation, drug abuse,
sexually transmitted disease, andHIV/AIDS.
• In 1987, as agreed by MWAN National, embarked on cancer screening and enlightenment, which
is still ongoing.
• In 1988, became an affliate of the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) and participates in its activities.
• Organizes Secondar y School quizzes and debates.
• Since 1997, has provided health s e r v i c e s i n c l u d i n g c a n c e r screening, immunization and
outpatient services at their Centre, Every Woman’s Centre, Marine Base, Port Harcourt.
• W e l f a r e c o m m i t t e e w a s inaugurated, and a welfare booklet was produced in 2010
• Revived the school health program in 2017 with school health clubs and debates
• Instituted the annual essay competition and children’s day celebration in 2020
• Scaled up cervical screening for precancer treatment using Visual Inspection with acetic
acid and Lugol’s iodine in 2020
• Started funding treatment of breast and cervical cancers through crowdfunding and other grants
• Commenced a mentorship masterclass for young doctorsin 2021

The Rivers State Branch participates
actively at the National and
International levels. The National
Biennial Conferences of the Medical
Women’s Association of Nigeria,
held in 1997 and 2007, were hosted
by the Rivers State Branch. During
the Biennial Conference in 1997 held
in Onitsha, a member of the Rivers
State Branch, Dr Claribel Abam,
received the prestigious Irene
Igodaro Award. At the 15th Biennial
Conference, which was held in Port
Harcourt in 2007, Dr Claribel Abam
emerged as the National President.
In 2009, at the 16th National Biennial
Conference in Abuja, another
member of the Rivers State Branch,
Dr Nnesochi Offor, received the
prestigious Irene Igodaro Award.
In 2010, at the Medical Women’s
International Association (MWIA)
held in Munster, Germany, Dr
Rosemary Ogu emerged as coChair of the International MWIA,
while in 2013, at the 18th National
Biennial Conference in Uyo,
Vetty/Agala emerged as the
National Coordinator of the Young
Forum in Nigeria. Prof Rosemary
Ogu recently emerged as National
President-Elect in Ibadan 2021.
The Branch has been represented at
the MWIA Conferences in Sao Paolo,
Brazil 1988. Sydney, Australia 2001,
Tokyo, Japan 2004; Accra, Ghana
2007; Munster, Germany, 2010; Seoul,
South Korea, 2013, Austria 2016, USA
2019 and Taiwan in 2021. They have
also participated in MWIA near East
and Africa Regional Conferences in
Abuja, Nigeria 2000 (during which
the Rivers State Branch was
respons ible for fundrai s ing);
Uganda, 2003; Zambia, 2006;
Tanzania, 2009; Egypt 2012, Ghana,
2015, Kenya in 2018 and Abuja 2021.
C a n c e r a w a r e n e s s , h e a l t h
p r o m o t i o n e x e r c i s e s a n d
media/school health activities
continue to be the main thrust of

MWAN activities.
In 2013, MWAN Rivers State Branch
received a grant from Ford
Foundation to set up Youth Friendly
Centres in two hard-to-reach Health
C e n t r e s i n A n d o n i L o c a l
Government Area (Unyeada and
Ataba), and in 2014, the Branch
received a grant from the NSRP as
the coordinating CSO for the
observatory on Violence against
Women and Girls in Rivers State.
In 2017, the branch received a grant
from the World Diabetes Foundation
to raise awareness, screen, and
manage pregnant women to
improve maternal and fetal
outcomes in gestational diabetes.
During this biennium under the
leadership of Dr Vetty Agala as
President and Dr Ireju Ajie as
Secretary, Partnerships Initiatives in
the Niger Delta gave MWAN a small
grant to commemorate the United
Nations 16 Days of Activism against
Gender-Based Violence. The branch
also received grants from SPDC to
treat 5 cancer patients and through
the Rivers, State Primary Healthcare
Management Board got a grant
from UNICEF to implement the
Primar y Healthcare Ser vice
Improvement project. Our present
secretariat, the “Every Woman’s
Center” in Marine Base was given to
MWAN Rivers by the then Governor
of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili when
Dr. Maria Krukrubo was President
and Dr. Ibimonye Porbeni secretary
1995/1997 Biennium. This Centre has
been renovated and equipped by
the current executive.
In 2019 and 2021, Partnerships
Initiatives in the Niger Delta gave
M W A N s m a l l g r a n t s t o
commemorate the United Nations’ 16
Days of Activism against GenderBased Violence. In 2020, the branch
received a grant from SPDC-JV to
treat five women with cancer. This
grant has been extended to another
six women in 2022. and through the
Rivers, State Primary Healthcare
Management Board got a grant
from UNICEF to implement the
Primar y Healthcare Ser vice
Improvement project. Our present
secretariat, the “Every Woman’s
Center” in Marine Base was given to
MWAN Rivers by the then Governor
of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili when

Dr. Maria Krukrubo was President and
Dr. Ibimonye Porbeni secretary 1995-
1997 Biennium. This Centre was
renovated and equipped by the 2019 –
2021 executive.
Past Executive
• Dr. Tumini Blue-Jack Wilcox –
President (1985-1987)
• Dr. Maria Krukrubo – Secretary
• Dr. Claribel Abam – President
(1988-1991)
• Dr. Stella Chijioke – Secretary
• Ebimie Okara – President (1991-
1993)
• Dr. Nengi Alazigha – Secretary
• Dr. Nwadiuto Akani – President
(1993-1995)
• Dr. Nengi Alazigha – Secretary
• Dr. Maria Krukrubo – President
(1995-1997)
• Dr. Ibimonye Porbeni – Secretary
• Dr. Enobong Ikpeme – President
(1997-1999)
• Dr. Barbara Otaigbe – Secretary
• Dr. Osuabo Alasia – President
(1999-2001)
• Dr. Oribi Isokariari – Secretary
• Dr. Oribi Isokariari Higgwe –
President (2001-2003)
• Dr. Ndidi Utchay – Secretary
• Dr. Justina Jumbo – President
(2003-2005)
• Dr. Olukunmi Ijeruh – Secretary
• Dr. Nnesochi Offor – President
(2005-2007)
• Dr. Onyebuekwe Ukegbu –
Secretary
• Dr. Rosel ine Appah-Dulu –
President (2007-2009)
• Dr. Oruene Finebone – Secretary
• Dr. Olukunmi Ijeruh – President
(2009-2011)
• Dr. Vetty Agala – Secretary
• Dr. Gracia Eke – President (2011-
2013)
• Dr. Henrietta Nwachukwu –
Secretary
• Dr. Obelebra Adebiyi – President
(2013-2015)
• Dr. Folusho Alamina – Secretary
• Dr. Rosemary Ogu- President
(2015-2017)
• Dr. Vetty Agala – Secretary
• Dr. Ibimonye Porbeni- President
(2017-2019)
• Dr. Ufuoma Edewor – Secretary
• Dr. Vetty Agala- President (2019-
2021)
• Dr. Ireju Ajie – Secretary
• Dr Omosivie Maduka – President
(2021 – 2023)
• Dr Vivian Ogbonna – Secretary

•Dr Cecilia Leloonu Nwibubasa- President (2023-2025)
•Dr Ololade Vivian Akanni- Secretary