Non-Governmental Organisation, Mission to Save Sight in Africa Foundation (MTSSAF), has organised a free eye screening and malaria test to create awareness on the need to guard against avoidable blindness.
The event, which held yesterday at Festac Town, according to the founder, Dr Oluwafunke Ani, was to mark the World Sight Day. The screening was part of MTSSAF’s contribution to ending avoidable blindness by 2020, even as free eye glasses were given out. “If we don’t avoid blindness by 2020, we will have a blind world filled with blind people.”
Dr Ani urged the people to take good care of their eyes, adding that there was no duplicate for the eye and that blindness was a physical affliction with a psychological effect.
The maiden edition of the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, (ZSF) Business Plan Competition has empowered over 20 people. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports that the organisation gave out a whopping N20 million to beneficiaries to enable them become self-reliant.
In order to encourage youths to strive towards self-reliance, the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, (ZSF) has organised its maiden edition of Business Plan Competition during which 20 winners emerged.
The event, which held at Westwood Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, penultimate Wednesday, was part of the Entrepreneurship Development Project (EDP); a brainchild of ZSF. The ZSF was assisted by Jaiz Bank Plc and Al-Barakah Micro-finance Bank.
The project was divided into two categories; namely growth track and idea track.
According to ZSF, EDP intends to promote entrepreneurship skills among the youth to enable them to be self-reliant and become job creators instead of job seekers.
At the event, 20 out of 128 participants won N10 million.
The lucky 20 participants had earlier made physical presentations of their business ideas and models before a panel of experts from which the best four applicants from the idea track and the best four applicants from the growth track categories were shortlisted for final award.
•From left: Dr Ashiru assisted by Lagos State University (LASU) lecturer Hajia Muslihah Ajala to present a N500,000 dummy cheque and certificate to Mrs Risqat Olaiwon
The best four finalists in the growth track were rewarded with N1.5 million, N1 million, N750,000 and N500,000 for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions respectively, while the best four finalists in the idea track were rewarded with N1 million, N750,000, N500,000 and N250,000 for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions respectively.
The other participants received N100, 000 each as support for their businesses.
ZSF Executive Director, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib expressed optimism that the scheme would go a long way in tackling the endemic problems of poverty, unemployment and hopelessness confronting Nigerian youths.
According to him, ZSF is committed to tackling problems of poverty and unemployment among Muslim youths through its Entrepreneurship Development Project (EDP).
He enjoined the beneficiaries to utilise the seed capital judiciously for the growth of the businesses.
“We have fulfilled our own part of the contract; it is left for you to fulfil yours. Our monitoring and evaluation officers will keep a tab on you from time to time and we implore you to furnish us with progress reports regularly. Be reminded that we shall render accounts, so will you on the Day of Judgement,” he said.
Chairman of ZSF Advisory Board, Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab praised the participants for believing in the foundation.
Alhaji Mutallab, who is also the chairman of Jaiz Bank said: “In line with the philosophy of our foundation, we are committed to providing opportunities for the teeming Nigerian youths endowed with various potential but lacking the required seed capital or having difficulty with gaining access to grants to expand their small and medium-size enterprises.
“In addition, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation is in partnership with Jaiz Bank Plc and Al-Barakah Micro-finance Bank Limited to complement the efforts of government in the area of job creation and employment opportunities for future leaders of this great country.
“It is against this background that we have gathered here today to reward some of the Nigerian youths that emerged best among their colleagues in the just-concluded competition with various cash prizes, certificates and plagues, among others. I am also very glad to inform you that we have a win-win situation for all the remaining contestants because they will be appreciated by the foundation in another way beyond this gathering.”
Leader of the team that selected the winners, Dr Lukman Raimi, a Senior Lecturer at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) enjoined the winners to keep in touch for continuous monitoring.
Ameerah (President) of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Lagos State chapter, Dr Sariyu Ashiru, praised ZSF for the initiative. She said it will play a major role in achieving one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations.
She expressed her regrets that government has failed to achieve some of its economic targets in 2010 and 2015, while it is currently pursuing the Vision 2020 agenda.
Ashiru, however, urged other stakeholders to emulate ZSF in a bid to eradicate poverty in the country through youth empowerment.
The grand prize winner, Dolapo Taofik Olalekan, on behalf of other beneficiaries, appreciated the foundation for the support, promising to utilise the fund judiciously for the growth of their businesses.
HELLO Reader, for you to succeed in your family life, you must set your priorities right for the building process. Foundation matters in a building; for, if the foundation be destroyed, the righteous can do nothing. So, your first building block for a solid foundation for your family is to PUT GOD FIRST.
Although it is your responsibility to build your home, the ultimate builder is God. The Word of God says: For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God (Hebrews 3:4). Trying to build your family outside Him, therefore, will give you little or no success. God, Himself is the Author and Creator of marriage and family. He was practically involved in instituting it (Genesis 2:18, 21-22). He personally took His time in fashioning the woman and delivered her to her husband. Marriage and family are not the idea of any man, culture or tradition; it is God’s idea. Therefore, to enjoy God’s best in your family, you must make Him the centre of your home. You must be ready to give Him priority place and recognize Him as the foundation for a successful home and family.
Your family needs God’s help to be exempted from troubles, woes and calamities that befall families in our world today. Man is still searching everywhere for lasting solutions to problems that is encountered in marriages and families today. However, in Psalm 60:11, the Psalmist shows us the secret to an enduring solution: Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. When you give God “first place” in your family, He makes His help available to you for the turnaround you desire in your home. That is why God’s help is all you need.
The challenge with many couples is that they push God aside and expect to enjoy divine benefits. They ignore the Word of God, which I call the “Manufacturer’s manual”, and expect the product (marriage) to function perfectly. But that is impossible! The Word of God says: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3). God is the foundation for any successful family life. When that foundation is faulty, no matter how righteous you may be, your home cannot stand.
To give God “priority place” in your family begins with your personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The presence of God comes down in your home when you are a child of God and a diligent student of the Word, who studies and practises it. That is the key to an exciting and successful family. Remember, God upholds ALL things by His Word (Hebrews 1:3). Once His Word is given its rightful place in your family, it will build a sure foundation, upon which you can build a strong family! Receive the grace to operate by the Word, in Jesus’ name.
So, family peace depends on the place you give to God and His Word. The more of Him you have, the more peace, joy, happiness and sweetness you enjoy in your family. Receive the grace to allow God take His rightful place as the first in your family and to practise His Word in your home, in Jesus’ Name.
If you desire a successful family life, you must make God first and not second. As a husband, wife, children and family member, you must make God first in everything. In other words, get committed to God, His Word, the course of His Kingdom and to His work.
Nothing and nobody should take the place of God in your life. Not your husband, wife or even your children, because if that happens, you will be placing your priorities wrongly. I know my husband loves me so much and I hear him tell me that almost every day, but I have never wished nor secretly desired to take the place of God in his heart. He knows I also love him, but the love of God takes number one in my life, followed by his. There are some parents, whose children are like gods to them. Your children are not gods to you but gifts from God. When I was much younger, I remembered that each time my parents prayed for us, they always referred to us as the gifts that God has given to them. At that time, I didn’t understand but now, I know better.
Your children are simply God’s gifts to take care of. They must not occupy the place of God in your life. Let God be number one: get committed to Him, His Word and to His work. By so doing, you allow God to mould you and shape your marriage, and family to become what He has destined them to be the devil notwithstanding!
However, the first step to take in order to give God and His Word priority place in your family and keep at it, is to give your life to God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. If you are ready to give your life to Christ and be born again, please say this prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”
If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
A not-for-profit organisation, Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN), is seeking support for children born with Down syndrome – a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops physically and mentally.
At a briefing on this year Down awareness week with the theme: Accept, educate and inspire, the foundation said, there was need to advocate the right of people living with the condition.
A parent of a Down syndrome child, Mr Muyiwa Majekodunmi said there was need for more awareness on the condition.
He advised Nigerians to accept, educate and inspire people on Down syndrome.
A film maker from the United States, Steven Gatlin said people should create and share the awareness on the condition.
“As a film maker, I have to take what I am learning to share with the others what the condition is all about across the world. I have a four years old son who is living with the condition. It all starts with you accepting your child and being aware that they have something called Down syndrome. When my child was born I knew he had Down syndrome but I never had an experience with it. I basically do what I can as I share what I learn as he grows. ,” he said.
He said as he learns more and share his experience on the condition he hopes that other people would same to elevate awareness on Down syndrome.
Cancer has killed many Nigerians this year. In 2012, it killed a leading light and wife of the founder of MicCom Cables and Wires, Prince Tunde Ponnle, who has now started a foundation to rescue people from the scourge. OLUKOREDE YISHAU writes that another feather will be added to the foundation’s cap as it takes delivery of a mammogram machine, which will change the face of managing the disease in Osun State and its environs.
The vision began with the death of a great woman, who, for decades, was an amazing partner to her husband. They helped the poor, contributed to education and were active in church development.
But on October 29, 2012, death parted them. Olufunke, an engineer and Princess, left Tunde, also an engineer, to face the challenges of life alone. No thanks to endometrial cancer. Prince Tunde Ponnle, founder MicCom Cables and Wires and MicCom Gold and Resort, has had to live painfully in the last three years without a woman who contributed to making
Prince Ponnle and The late Mrs Poonle
him what he is.
The good news, however, is that Mrs Ponnle’s death made her husband learn more about cancer. He has realised that cancer kills more people worldwide than malaria, HIV and AIDS and tuberculosis. He also discovered that when detected early, cancer could be cured. He equally discovered that the prevalence rate of cancer was on the increase among Nigerians.
Worse still, he realised that 10 people die from cancer every hour and yet only a few African countries were sufficiently funding cancer control programmes. It also became known to him that no fewer than 80,000 Nigerians die from various types of cancer annually and this may increase; given the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) projection that about 84 million people may die worldwide as a result of one form of cancer or the other this year.
These discoveries made Ponnle to consult with his children and the result is the MicCom Cancer Foundation (MCCF).
The Ibokun Road, Ada, Osun State-based foundation is out to help women fight breast cancer and also help men who may have prostate cancer. The foundation chose these two types of cancer because statistics show that they are the most prevalent among Nigerians.
Any moment from now, the foundation will take delivery of a mammogram machine. It was donated by a respected family physician, Dr. Doris Kyeremateng, who has also joined the board of MicCom Cancer Foundation.
A mammograph machine
Dr. Kyeremateng, a Canada-based Ghanaian, was, in 2006, installed as the President of the Manitoba College of Family Physicians. As President, Dr. Kyeremateng represented the province of Manitoba on the board of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).
She migrated to Canada in 1995 and has been practising in Winnipeg. She owns and runs the Autumnwood Medical Centre in Windsor Park in Winnipeg. She obtained her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at the University of Bergen, Norway in 1992 where she practised as a General Practitioner until 1995, when she moved to Winnipeg with her family.
She completed a two-year Family Medicine residency programme at the University of Manitoba in 2000.
The centre has solid professionals either as technical experts or full-time members of staff. One of the technical experts behind it is Dr. A. Akinsola, a Professor of Internal Medicine and Consultant Nephrologist, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who has broad-based skills and capacity in programme coordination and administration.
Also supporting the centre technically is Dr K.T. Ijadunola, who is an Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He has proven expertise in communication, health education, promotion and programme management and execution.
There is also Dr. A.A Salako, who is an Associate Professor/Consultant Urologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He is a urologist with special interest in screening and management of benign prostatic enlargement and prostate cancers. He has also been involved in community surveys.
The centre also has the technical backing of Dr. K.O Ajenifuja, a Senior Lecturer/Consultant Obstetrics ad Gynaecologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Dr Ajenifuja has ample experience in community screening and treatment of cervical cancer. He has been part of a similar programme in India.
Last but not the least is Dr O.A Esimai, an Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who coordinates the Well Women Clinic which provides awareness and screening services for breast and cervical cancers.
The foundation runs a Cancer Preventive and Treatment Centre at its secretariat. The centre focuses on providing screening, counselling services and other support for treatment of early stage of cancer. It has the capacity to ensure adequate information management that will enable academic institutions conduct research into these cancers.
“The data being generated will also be made available to the concerned government parastatals either for evaluation and/or research purpose. The programme managers, assisted by an Assistant Programme Manager provide services.
“The foundation links up with secondary and tertiary health institutions in identified target communities in Nigeria (the OAUTHC Ile-Ife at inception) to facilitate access to management and quality care of patients with established lesions.
“There is a plan to support and invest in the capacity development of the institution. This will be in the form of equipment (laboratory, radiology) and capacity building in diagnosis and treatment and facilitation of treatment of early lesions through a cost-sharing strategy between stakeholders,” the centre said.
The foundation said it would continually mount advocacy and awareness campaign in Osun State, the neighbouring states and ultimately throughout the country.
“This will be done through various media–radio and television, print media and visits to community leaders. This has commenced in earnest in the first month of the foundation’s operation through visits to traditional rulers of the six communities identified namely Ada, Ororuwo, Iragbiji, Aagba, Iree, and Eripa. The foundation has created awareness through media (radio and television) programmes in the form of jingles and lectures on “the cancers and their prevention” on the radio.
Other advocacy will include sourcing for increased national, regional and international investment in the prevention and management of breast, cervical and prostate cancers in Nigeria,” the centre said.
It is also taking serious partnership with hospitals, development partners and government parastatals. In the area of capacity building, the centre is focusing on human, infrastructural and institutional capacity building.
“With respect to human capacity building, it will provide fellowship awards for short stay of experts to acquire skills for management of these three focal cancers in institutes with such expertise. We will also invest in training and building capacity of local experts to be able to manage these lesions in many medical centres all over Nigeria.
“With respect to infrastructural and institutional capacity building, MCCF shall invest in installation of equipment and production of materials that will enable our various partners at all levels to conduct health education in order to create awareness about cancer prevention, screen and ensure early diagnosis of cancer and effectively manage all referred cases,” it said.
But how will the centre be sustained? It explains: “MCCF is planned to be an ongoing concern. It will therefore strongly invest in partnership and institution capacity building. Also it shall create an environment that can support continued research and academic affiliation that will enable the foundation continue to generate the needed evidence for policy development and review for cancer prevention and management in the country. It shall start small, but evolve to be a major cancer centre in the future.”
The foundation also encourages volunteerism among health care providers locally, nationally and in the Diaspora. It will campaign against predisposing lifestyle practices that have been linked to cancer such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, exposure to carcinogenic product, multiple sexual partners, early exposure to sex and unprotected sexual intercourse. It will also champion the need for regular medical check-ups, monthly self-breast examination, need for healthy diet, regular exercise and prevention of obesity.
The screening services available at the centre include histopathology of pap smears, mammography, ultrasonographic examinations, breast biopsy, PSA determination, digital rectal examination and clinical breast examination.
Members of the staff welfare association of Paterson Zochonis (PZ) at the Aba plant, as well as the Inner Heart Foundation have lifted the spirits of people behind bars in the commercial city.
On a visit to the Aba Prisons, the workers and staff of PZ presented over 50 tubers of yam, a sewing machine, a bag of beans, five bags of rice, two bags of garri, about nine pillows, mosquito nets, bags of salt and sugar, a deep freezer, cartons of bar soap and detergents, cooking oil, about 20 in addition to an undisclosed amount of money.
Last year, in the maiden edition of the outreach, the workers’ welfare union built a four-room toilet for Eziama Community Primary School in Aba North Local Government Area. The workers also gave N390,000 cheque to a staff of the school, Mr. Chika Kalu Sampson for the treatment of his daughter, Chika Kalu for a hole-in-heart surgery.
Though as it was not the custom to allow journalists talk to the inmates, but the smiles and joy expressed by the inmates shows that they would always pray that either the group continues to remember them or that a donation of sort should continue to come their way.
Some of the staff who spoke to our reporter including Mr. Emma Ofordu said that they were extremely happy to have touched the lives of others in need positively.
Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Abadom, the General Manager for PZ Cussons Nigeria, Aba, said, “We are the foremost manufacturers in Nigeria. We have one of the biggest soap plants in Nigeria and what we do is that once every year, we look for a corporate project that we can use to touch the heart of communities around us. Last year, we visited some schools and we made some donations to them. This year, we have decided to come and visit the prisons and also to contribute and handover some of the things which you see around here for the welfare of the prisoners and to ensure that the reformation process goes on smoothly in order to achieve the desired result at the end of the day”.
How they come about the money for the items? Mr. Abadom, said “Every single thing that you see here was purchased from the contribution of the entire staff of the company (PZ Cussons, Aba). So, what we do is that at the beginning of every year, we will come together and make pledges; everybody contributing from his or her salary. We look at it as a humanitarian gesture to assist the less privilege around our community.
“We believe that in helping the community as stakeholders of the community, the overall society can be better. We don’t confine ourselves to our work environment; we also reach out to the community. So, it’s actually from the contributions of the workers from their salaries that all these items were bought. It is not by compulsion, but voluntarily. A lot of donations were made without people even knowing who donated them, we announced those that want their names to be announced and those who donated anonymously were not mentioned.
“What we are doing is not synonymous with the plant here in Aba, it is ongoing in all the branches of the establishment across Nigeria; it is Pan-Nigeria. They equally try to reach out to their local communities. So, this is only an arm.
“By what we have just done, it is a means of encouraging others because if everybody reaches out to assist one another, chances are that there will be drop in crime. There will be assistance and people will be able to get the benefit. We cannot wait on the government to do everything, it is not fair. The government is actually doing their very best to assist and bring things up. However, we as well, we need to assist the government in every little way we can do that; whether it is reaching out to the children or the community or whether it is to build pipe borne water or borehole; in any way we can help the government. At the end of the day, it is still our premises and where we reside and by that, we will as well help the government to get to the level where we want to be”.
On his advice for his colleagues, the Aba Plant manager added “The seed we sow now, we hope to see the benefit in the future. It is not necessarily about monetary benefit. For the very fact that you can wake up in the morning and walk around your environment happily and safe, it’s a big achievement. So, it is not necessarily in terms of monetary reward, we expect the society to be better. Once the society is better, you will reap from directly and indirectly from that society and that’s our prayer”.
The head of the Prison facility DCP (Deputy Comptroller of Prisons), Ugba Stephen who received the items on behalf of the staff and inmates said that the items would go a long way in meeting the needs of the inmates and facility and debunked the notion that items donated to the inmates were being diverted and shared among the staff other than the purpose for which it was meant for.
Mr. Stephen used the opportunity to appeal to other private and corporate organizations in and around the commercial city to emulate the gestures of the PZ staffers which he said would ensure that the daily needs of the inmates were met.
“The items are for the inmates and if it were possible for one of the inmates to come here, you will personally ask them about how I feed them. Any item that is given to them will be distributed to them and they can attest to that. So, that is the principle of my life because if you cheat someone today, God will pay you back in one way or the other. So, the best is to make sure that you give your best to humanity; give your best to the inmates that you are caring for.
“I am impressed with what they brought because we have written a lot of letters for companies to come to our aid. Some have come and those items they brought were used for the purpose that it was meant for. So, this item that you see will be fully given to the inmates.
“All hands are not equal. We will keep appealing to other companies to see how they can come to our aide. People responds at their own pace based on their financial capacity and I strongly believe that they will come to our aide.
“I pray that God replenishes their purse because they are touching the lives of those in needs and God in his wisdom will touch their lives abundantly,” the DCP prayed.
The Jimmy Carter Foundation in collaboration with Sir Emeka Offor Foundation and the Federal Ministry of Health have mounted a campaign against neglected tropical diseases.
The team visited Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states where it held meetings with commissioners of health and other stakeholders in the health sector.
The two foundations plan to give free drugs to all states in Nigeria to facilitate the fight against river blindness and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) like leprosy, guinea worm, buruli ulcer and other related killer- diseases endemic in some states of the federation.
The Jimmy Carter foundation had in the past years been in the forefront of the fight against guinea worm disease in Nigeria.
In line with the Federal Ministry of Health’s campaign on eradication of river blindness before 2020, the foundation alongside Sir Emeka Offor Foundation joined the ministry on advocacy visits to state ministries of health in South-East to collaborate with them in the fight against NTD.
Dr. Okoeguale
During their visit to the Enugu and Anambra states ministries of health on the elimination and control of NTDs in Nigeria, Dr. Bridget Okoeguale, Director of public health, Federal Ministry of health, empasised the need for collaboration in the fight against the diseases.
“We have target to eradicate some of the neglected tropical diseases”, she stressed.
Okoeguale stressed the importance of educating the people in the grassroots on ways to prevent and control the sporadic neglected tropical diseases
She appealed to the federal government to collaborate with the state government to provide basic incentives like motorcycles, T- Shirts, and umbrellas to health workers in the states to facilitate the sharing of drugs against NTDs.
The permanent secretary in the Enugu state ministry of health, Mr. Moses Otuji who represented the commissioner for health gave his assurrance that “ Enugu state has the wherewithal to combat the NTDs”, therefore it requires a concerted effort to eliminate the killer- diseases.
Otuji further emphasised the commitment of the state government in the fight against diseases. He said that “Enugu state is lucky to have a governor who is interested in heath -related issues.”
In Anambra State, the commissiner for health, Dr Joe Akabike expressed his concern in the eradication of the diseases and assured that the state was not ready to revert the wheel in the fight against diseases.
“We should sensitise those affected by the diseases on how to apply the drugs and as well as show them love”.
The programme officer in Sir Emeka offor foundation, Mr. Peter Onu disclosed that Sir Emeka Offor was a key supporter in the campaign for eradication of the killer-diseases.
He therefore appealed to the state governments to take bold steps in the fight against the diseases.
Confirming the readiness to eliminate river blindness in Nigeria the representative of Carter Centre, Nigeria office, Dr. Emmanuel Miri told The Nation that efforts were on ground to eradicate river blindness in Nigeria before 2020.
Miri called on the states to tackle the diseases in four years.
Dr. Mmiri
The team also visited the commissioner for ministry of local government in Anambra state , Greg Obi.
The commissioner expressed his concern for the fight against neglected tropical diseases and called for a concerted effort among the local government chairmen in the state to ward off the diseases.
He congratulated the advocacy group led by the director of public health federal ministry of health, Dr. Okoeguale and the country representative of Carter Centre, Nigeria office, Dr. Miri on their efforts in the disease eradication campaign.
Hope is coming the way of sick children in Lagos State who require surgery for hernia, hydrocele and un-descended testes, among other abnormalities of the male genitalia.
The Outreach Medical Services, through its foundation, Anu Dosekun Foundation (ADF) is collaborating with some senior health care practitioners at Kings College Hospital Denmark Hill, United Kingdom (UK) to organise a surgery programme aimed at restoring life to sick children. The programme is slated for early next year.
The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Efunbo Dosekun said the experts will carry out the surgeries on the children alongside their Nigerian counterparts.
Dr Dosekun said the future of the country will be bleak if children are neglected, adding that Asia has experienced transformation because it took the issue of child care seriously.
The programme, she said, would put smiles on the faces of children suffering from some diseases.
The state of infants, she said, is deplorable, adding that the country’s health ranking of 187 out of 191 countries that lag behind in health issue has left much to be desired.
She called for the integration of primary, secondary and tertiary health care into treatment plan, stressing that this would ensure access to care for sick babies and infants.
Dr Dosekun, who has put in more than 35 years as a paediatrician, said the experts will work with the federal and state government-owned hospitals to select those who would benefit from the programme.
She urged corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to support the programme so that life can be meaningful for the children.
“It is a bi-lateral engagement. So, we need to raise some funds so that the mission can be effective. We are going to be working with politicians, academics and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), among others, to return hope to the children,” she said.
The paediatrician said the experts from the UK will also build the capacity of Nigerian surgeons on new vascular access technique, especially paediatrics surgeries.
Dr Dosekun said her organisation is organising a dance drama to be staged by the Society of Performing Artists of Nigeria (SPAN), under the leadership of Mrs Sarah Boulous on Saturday to create awareness on the programme
The Olajumoke Akinjide Foundation (OAF) has donated equipment worth millions of naira to boost healthcare delivery services at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
They included wheel chairs, electric beds, walking aids, paediatric examination tables, dental examination chairs, operating tables, trolleys, blood donor chairs, resuscitation beds, consumables, thermometers, among others.
The Chief Medical Director, Prof. Temitope Alonge, receiving the equipment from the chairperson of OAF, Mrs. Modupe Akindeko, said: “This is the second batch of donation from OAF”, adding that it would address shortage of medical equipment.
She said: “The four months strike by the doctors has paralysed our financial activities. We can’t even buy the needed equipment. But with this gesture, healthcare delivery will be provided. For instance, we were just thinking of raising money to buy the operating table, which costs N5million, but OAF has donated four to us.
“The foundation is meeting the needs of this hospital. Many politicians donate to where they can benefit, but this foundation and its founder, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, are committed to humanity.”
Mrs. Akindeko said OAF, which was established in August 2005, would give back to the society and meet its needs.
She said the foundation had impacted on lives through health, agriculture, capacity building, provision of potable water, and relief material to flood victims and building of classrooms.
Mrs. Akindeko said they were assisting the government in health and education, adding that such gestures would make the country a better place to live in.
FROM LEFT: CHAIRMAN, MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL (UCH), IBADAN, DR AKINFEMI AFOLABI; CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF UCH, PROF. TEMITOPE ALONGE; MEMBER OF OLAJUMOKE AKINJIDE FOUNDATION, ALHAJI OLAJIRE OBISESAN; CHAIRPERSON OF THE FOUNDATION, MRS MODUPEOLA AKINDEKO, AND MEMBER OF THE FOUNDATION, AKINWUNMI AKINFENWA, AT THE PRESENTATION OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL IN IBADAN ON THURSDAYSOME OF THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT DONATED BY OLAJUMOKE AKINJIDE FOUNDATION TO THE UNVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL IN IBADAN ON THURSDAY
