WHY VITALGIFT MEDICAL OUTREACH WAS BORN
I lived in Canada with my wife and children for decades — a proud Canadian-Nigerian family. Life was good, until one day, everything changed. My wife, Sarah Banks, fell sick. She was taken to the hospital, and after a series of tests, the doctors sat us down with the kind of news no one ever wants to hear: “She has breast cancer… and it’s already at stage 4. She has five months to live.”
Those words shattered my world. But then, something remarkable happened. Thanks to the world-class healthcare system in Canada, the dedication of skilled health professionals, and the availability of advanced medical equipment, Sarah’s “five months” turned into four more precious years. Four years of shared laughter, quiet moments, and cherished memories — moments I thought I had lost.
On the 9th of May, 2021, in Caledon, Ontario, Canada, Sarah finally went to be with the Lord. The pain of losing her was deep, but so was the gratitude for the extra time modern healthcare had given us. When I returned to Nigeria, I was faced with a sobering truth: We have brilliant and well-trained health workers — some of the best in the world — but in many hospitals, the right tools and equipment are missing. Patients here often don’t get the fighting chance that Sarah got in Canada. That reality birthed VitalGift Medical Outreach.
Our mission is clear: To bridge the gap in healthcare delivery by equipping Nigerian hospitals with modern, safe, and life-saving medical equipment — so that more people can survive, thrive, and share more moments with those they love. This is not just a project. It is a personal mission born out of loss, love, and hope.
Sarah’s fight taught me that the right equipment can mean the difference between counting months and gaining years. And that is the gift we want to give — the Vital Gift — to hospitals across Nigeria and beyond, one facility at a time.
Wale Banks,
Chairman, VitalGift Medical Outreach.