HealthCare

We plan to expand our reach by partnering
with more hospitals in the coming months.

Healthcare:

Background: The Health situation of where we work:

Nigeria has one of the worst maternal and under-five mortality in the world. This is made worse by the fact that about 95% of the population does not have access to health insurance, and this makes access to healthcare challenging, especially for low-income families.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria has the third highest rate of maternal mortality in the world, with the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 1047 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, which is more than 10 times higher than the global average of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Additionally, based on the most recent UNICEF data, roughly one in eight children in Nigeria die before their fifth birthday, and this number is worse in rural communities. Unfortunately, most of these children die from easily preventable and treatable diseases because they do not have access to healthcare or are unable to afford it, which is regrettable.

 

Healthcare services we provide:

Free healthcare to children, pregnant women, and the elderly

We work to improve the health of underserved communities in Nigeria, with emphasis on poor women and children, thereby reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. We are partnering with Philip Umeh Memorial Hospital in Nneato, Abia state, Nigeria, to provide free, all-inclusive outpatient medical care to qualifying children under five years and elderly 70 years and above. We also provide free all-inclusive pre-natal, delivery, and post-natal care to qualifying pregnant women.

  • Average number of patients receiving free medical services per month: 50
  • Average amount spent on free medical services per month: $300

We plan to expand our reach by partnering with more hospitals in the coming months.

Free health screening services

Many adults in rural communities had not visited a physician for years due to financial constraints. We sponsor free general medical check-ups, including checking for hypertension, diabetes, and HIV. These free medical screenings are done in our collaborating hospitals and through community outreaches by our collaborating non-profit organizations, such as the Benue Lifecare Foundation.

Reproductive health education in schools

Many teachers feel uncomfortable talking about reproductive health in Nigeria, and so many students are ill-informed about it. This is partly because of the local culture, which does not encourage sex to be discussed openly. However, there is a high level of teenage pregnancy with resultant high school dropout rates for girls in these rural communities. We decided to fill this gap by conducting sex education in secondary schools. Students are given the opportunity to ask questions during the seminar and after the workshops.

Workshops for community health workers

We aim to strengthen the health system at the health centers by organizing workshops on Integrated Management of Childhood illnesses for community health workers. We provide an opportunity for the health workers to learn from each other and refresh their knowledge and skills in managing common childhood illnesses.