Tag Archive for: Nigeria

Posts

, ,

DSWHUB Fights Poverty in Nigeria

DSWHUBNigeria, the most populous country in Africa, continues to grapple with severe socioeconomic issues that have left millions in poverty. As of 2023, nearly 87 million Nigerians live below the poverty line, with inflation hitting a 24-year high of 31.7%. Despite efforts to address unemployment, the youth face high underemployment rates and a lack of quality job opportunities, leading to widespread poverty in Nigeria.

This economic disparity is a major factor in irregular migration, with many Nigerians risking their lives to seek better opportunities abroad. In 2017 alone, more than 18,000 Nigerians arrived in Italy via the perilous Mediterranean route. The desperation that pushes individuals to migrate also makes them vulnerable to human trafficking, often ending up in forced labor or sexual exploitation.

Denny Social Welfare Hub

Denny Social Welfare Hub (DSWHUB), a nonprofit organization, is tackling the root causes of irregular migration and human trafficking by focusing on community empowerment, education and advocacy. One of its key initiatives is the iEMPATHY Campaign, which raises awareness about the dangers of irregular migration and human trafficking. This campaign specifically targets women and other vulnerable groups, educating them about the risks involved in irregular migration and empowering them to make informed decisions.

In 2023, DSWHUB held a notable community engagement event in Ogun State, where it educated residents on the risks of illegal migration and the tactics traffickers use to exploit vulnerable individuals. The event emphasized the role of women in migration decisions and promoted the idea of safe and legal migration pathways​. By increasing awareness and fostering informed decision-making, DSWHUB reduces the number of individuals falling prey to traffickers.

Support for Migrants and Survivors of Human Trafficking

In addition to awareness campaigns, DSWHUB actively supports the reintegration of returned migrants and survivors of human trafficking. These individuals often face stigma and difficulty rebuilding their lives. Through vocational training, education and capacity-building programs, DSWHUB equips them with the skills they need to reintegrate successfully into society. Its focus on long-term economic empowerment ensures survivors are less likely to become re-trafficked.

DSWHUB’s efforts have had a tangible impact on the communities it serves. By educating vulnerable populations and offering alternatives to dangerous migration routes, DSWHUB has helped reduce instances of irregular migration and human trafficking. Many individuals who participated in the iEMPATHY Campaign have shared testimonies of how the program equipped them with knowledge that helped them avoid falling victim to traffickers.

Moreover, DSWHUB’s reintegration programs have enabled survivors of trafficking to rebuild their lives. Through skills training and support, individuals have gained the confidence and resources to start small businesses, seek employment or return to education. By addressing the root causes of poverty and unemployment, DSWHUB is making a lasting impact in breaking the cycle of exploitation and preventing retrafficking​.

Summary

DSWHUB is addressing the systemic issues of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria, which drive irregular migration and human trafficking. Through innovative campaigns like iEMPATHY and comprehensive reintegration programs, DSWHUB is creating long-term solutions that empower individuals and strengthen communities. Its work not only saves lives but also offers a model for how grassroots organizations can combat human trafficking and irregular migration in regions plagued by socioeconomic challenges.

DSWHUB is helping vulnerable populations build safer, more secure futures free from exploitation by focusing on education, empowerment and advocacy. DSWHUB’s ongoing work highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of migration and trafficking to create lasting change in Nigeria.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr

Tropical General Investments (TGI) and Rice Production in Nigeria

TGINigeria faces a pressing economic challenge as food inflation continues to rise. In 2017, the surge in pricing prompted Nigeria’s Tropical General Investments (TGI) investment and holding company to pivot toward domestic rice production as a strategic solution. As of June 2023, the food inflation rate in Nigeria was 25.09%, a 4.55% increase over June 2022. This uptick raised alarms about food security and heightened the overall cost of living in Nigeria. Today, TGI plays a pivotal role in mitigating the challenges posed by escalating food inflation through its visionary rice production plan.

TGI’s Rice Production Plan in Action

In response to the escalating crisis, TGI implemented a strategic plan to boost domestic rice production, reducing the country’s reliance on imported rice and therefore controlling the cost. The company invested in modern rice mills and, in collaboration with local farmers, established over 70 rice mills in 2021. In addition to meeting the rising demand for rice, this move stimulated economic growth by creating employment opportunities within the agriculture sector.

In its first four years, TGI created 2,000 jobs in Nigeria and exported $280,000 in rice, benefiting local communities by reducing unemployment. Through a recent partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), it plans to create 60,000 more jobs and produce an additional 20,000 tons of rice.

Results and Impact of TGI on the Nigerian Economy

In a span of two years, the company significantly increased its rice production capacity, meeting a substantial portion of the domestic demand. TGI’s rice production plan not only contributed to stabilizing rice prices, but also played a role in reducing overall food inflation rates. As of July 2022, Nigeria’s rice imports fell over 98%, with the country only importing 15 metric tons, compared to 957 metric tons in past years.

Conclusion

TGI’s rice production plan stands as a beacon of hope, showcasing the transformative power of private-sector initiatives in the face of economic challenges. Through a strategic emphasis on enhancing domestic rice production, TGI has tackled the pressing issue of rising food prices, created a profitable export product and contributed to Nigeria’s overall economic stability.

– Quinn Higby
Photo: Pixabay

,

Burna Boy’s History of Charity Work in Nigeria

Burna BoyRenowned Nigerian Afrobeats artist Burna Boy is actively contributing to the betterment of his homeland, Nigeria. In celebration of his 2021 Grammy win for Best Global Music Album with “Twice as Tall,” he generously provided food packages to 300 families in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Burna Boy is committed to addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including extreme poverty and issues of police brutality. He actively supports charitable endeavors, such as the Global Citizen’s Demand Equity campaign based in the United States (U.S.). Additionally, he has established the Project Protect fund, which focuses on assisting protesters wrongfully detained in cases of police brutality. Through these efforts, Burna Boy is making a significant impact on his country and advocating for positive change.

In reference to his charity work, Burna Boy also released his very own 16-minute documentary in December 2022 called “Whiskey” about the pollution and poverty affecting his Nigerian hometown of Port Harcourt that features interviews with locals about how crude oil waste has polluted the city’s water and its negative effects on the health of the local population and is in collaboration with the Nigerian charity Reach Every Available Communal Household (R.E.A.C.H.), which will donate all of its proceeds to help provide the community itself with food, clean water, medication and other necessities in general.

Burna Boy’s Comments on His Documentary

At a screening of the documentary “Whiskey” in December 2022, Burna Boy commented that the run-down way that the Nigerian area of Port Harcourt looks in the film is the same type of environment that people from where he is from live in every day of the year. Additionally, he also stated that he hopes the accompanying song he made for the film, titled “Whiskey,” which centers on the area’s problems with poverty and pollution, helps bring forth change and awareness relating to the area itself and other places around the world that are suffering from extreme poverty in general, such as other parts of Africa and the Caribbean.

Burna Boy’s Thoughts on Police Brutality in Nigeria

In response to the surge in incidents of police brutality in Nigeria in October 2020, which reignited calls for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian police force, Burna Boy conveyed his stance on the matter via Twitter. He asserted that police brutality has been a persistent issue in Nigeria, resulting in harm and loss of life among its citizens. Burna Boy emphasized his commitment to leveraging his platform to advocate for his fellow countrymen, striving to bring about meaningful progress and change within his homeland.

What’s Next?

Burna Boy is still standing up for his country of Nigeria by combating its pollution, immense poverty and police brutality to lead the country down a path of progress.

– Deon Roberts
Photo: Flickr

The Importance of Sesame Seeds for Nigeria’s Economy

Nigeria is a country rife with poverty. Between 1980 and 2010, it saw a drastic 153.6% increase in poverty, even though its per capita GDP rose by about 19% during this period. According to a recent World Bank Report, around four in 10 Nigerians were living in poverty as of 2022, many of them in Northern Nigeria.

However, the production of sesame seeds in Northern Nigeria has been providing hope for the region’s poor. The seed is in major demand around the world and, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Nigeria was the world’s sixth-largest exporter of sesame seeds in 2021, making sesame seeds the country’s second most lucrative export after cocoa. With much sesame seed cultivation concentrated in the north and international demand for sesame seeds expected to continue rising, the seeds are playing a key role in reducing poverty in Northern Nigeria and improving the country’s economy as a whole.

Economic Importance of Sesame Seed in Nigeria

The flowering plant that produces sesame seeds can thrive in Northern Nigeria because it is resistant to drought. It is a high-value crop because both the seeds and the oil extracted from them are common food staples around the world, used in sweets, breads and everyday cooking. Additionally, a variety of non-food products, including ulcer and burn medicines and aerosol sprays, incorporate sesame oil. Lower-quality sesame oil can be used in making lubricants, while the shafts from processed seeds can be used as animal feed.

Nigeria exports an estimated 90% of its sesame seeds, with China and Japan being major importers. According to Sheriff Balogun, president of the National Sesame Seed Association of Nigeria, the country generates $700 million from sesame exports yearly, which equates to about $1400 per metric tonne of exported seed.

While several years ago, only a few Nigerian states were cultivating sesame seed, it is now produced in 26 states, with the country’s top producers being in the north. Exports to Japan, especially, have had a positive impact on Nigeria’s economy. Japan imports about 40% of its sesame seeds from Nigeria, and the trade volume between the two countries reached $1 billion in 2022. Between 2020 and 2021, Nigeria’s income from agricultural exports rose by an estimated 57.02%, a boost that sesame exports, which increased from 98.27 billion naira to 113.2 billion naira, played critical roles in propelling.

Efforts To Boost the Nigerian Economy with Sesame Seed

Despite the poverty and food insecurity that many in Northern Nigeria face, there have been ongoing efforts to help farmers in the region thrive so that they can build a better future for themselves and their families. For instance, the FAO and World Food Programme (WFP) have partnered to help farmers in Northeastern Nigeria improve food production, with the goal of ensuring them a secure source of both income and sustenance. By supplying seeds, fertilizer and food to nourish households until a successful harvest, the initiative provided vital support for all 67,000 inhabitants of the town of Rann in 2018.

More recently, the Japanese Government announced plans to invest $30 billion in Nigeria and other African countries in the next three years. Japan hopes to help further boost Nigeria’s economy and strengthen mutually beneficial trade relations between both nations.

Additionally, the Central Bank of Nigeria has allocated 21 billion Naira to expand Nigeria’s production and export of sesame seeds and cocoa. The initiative aims to increase the country’s foreign exchange income through agricultural commodities, in part by providing loans to smallholder farmers.

Looking Ahead

Though many Nigerians, especially in the north, are struggling with poverty and food insecurity, sesame seed cultivation presents hope for the country’s future economic growth. With continued national and international support, Nigeria’s sesame seed industry shows signs of expanding and paving the way for secure livelihoods and a thriving economy for Nigerians.

– Chidinma Nwoha

Photo: Flickr

, , ,

Women in Tech in Nigeria: Empowerment Through Technology

Women in TechIn 2021, women accounted for approximately 49.3% of Nigeria’s population yet only about 48% of Nigerian women aged 15 and older participated in the labor force, a rate that has dropped from about 57% in 2011. In fact, female unemployment in Nigeria has risen from about 3.7% in 2011 to 8.8% in 2021. This is why the work of organizations such as Women in Tech in Nigeria (WITIN) is so important. Women need support to gain economic independence, and encouraging female advancement in one of the fastest-growing industries could not be more fitting.

What is Women in Tech in Nigeria?

Women in Tech in Nigeria is both a nonprofit and an association, established for the purpose of empowering women girls and women through technology. It advocates for female leadership in the tech industry, equips women with digital skills, supports female entrepreneurship and campaigns for reforms that promote gender equality.

The categories of women WITIN targets include university students at any level of study in order to foster their interest in the tech industry, female graduates early in their careers, women returning to the workforce to whom WITIN provides returning programs and professionals switching from other industries to the tech industry. WITIN also caters to female entrepreneurs looking to technology for business growth, female veterans in the technology industry and rural women seeking jobs.

The organization partners with schools and educators to promote STEM subjects among girls and provides internship and volunteer opportunities to directly mentor them. Men who want to support women in technology can do so through WITIN’s #HeforShe movement. By bringing together women from different backgrounds in technology, WITIN has created a support system for women in the tech industry.

Recent Achievement

In 2022, Women in Tech in Nigeria stood as the runner-up for the WSIS Prize due to its WomenPRIDE.Africa program. WSIS refers to the World Summit on the Information Society, a U.N.-backed annual forum for those using information and communications technology (ICT) to promote sustainable development. The WomenPRIDE.Africa program promotes digital outreach to marginalized women, giving them access to the digital economy and teaching them marketable digital skills.

Notable Leadership

Martha Omoekpen Alade, the current executive director of Women in Tech in Nigeria, officially established the nonprofit association in 2009. She partnered with Google in 2011 to set up the Grassroots Women Empowerment Through ICT (GWEIT) online platform for women-run small businesses in rural Nigeria and these businesses continue to have an online presence even after the termination of the platform.

Alade led WITIN to partner with USAID and Intel in their respective initiatives, Women and the Web Alliance and She Will Connect, to empower women through technology, create entrepreneurship opportunities for young women in Nigeria and more. In 2019, Alade received the Community Impact Award at the Technology Playmaker Awards held annually by the digital tech lead Booking.com for WITINs efforts to harness technology to uplift 20,000 impoverished girls and women by 2022.

Looking Ahead

As the world grows more and more digitally interconnected, technology has evolved from a tool of economic development to one that promotes social and political development. Technology plays a critical role in the advancement of women’s rights and Women in Tech in Nigeria is one of many examples that solidifies this. It is, therefore, crucial to support advocacy efforts for gender equality and eliminate gender gaps in all industries altogether. This will be to the benefit of the communities in which empowered women live.

– Kena Irungu
Photo: WikkiCommons

, , , ,

Quadloop Tackles Energy Poverty

Quadloop Tackles Energy PovertyQuadloop is a Nigerian company turning electronic waste into solar products to tackle the country’s energy crisis and toxic e-waste and chemical hazards. Dozie Igweilo, a co-founder of Quadloop, emphasizes the harmful impact of e-waste on vulnerable populations in Nigeria. Through efforts such as turning e-waste into sustainable products, Quadloop tackles energy poverty in Africa.

Inequitable E-Waste in Central Africa

Over 95% of Nigeria’s 250,000 tons of e-waste contain dangerous compounds such as mercury, lead and cadmium. Improper disposal of hazardous materials has been shown to pollute and contaminate the environment, air, water and food sources, endangering e-waste workers and residents close to landfills. In extreme cases, toxic heavy metals have threatened child development and led to neurological damage. The European Union and U.N. also report on the inequity of e-waste: Developed countries offload their waste into Africa.

In Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania receive the most e-waste from developed countries. Due to inequitable policy and waste management systems, these countries cannot handle the surplus of waste from other countries. The following e-waste pollution leads to environmental contamination and subsequently endangers human health. The ongoing energy crisis is another concern: The Energy Progress Report of 2022 estimates that “92 million Nigerians lack access to electricity from the national grid.” With an energy grid that has already broken down five times in 2022 so far, policymakers and companies see renewable energy as a prime solution.

What Quadloop Does

Quadloop tackles energy poverty by collecting e-waste and reusing it to create renewable energy products. The company strives to reduce the buildup of e-waste in central Africa by using a circular economy model to turn e-waste into electricity for Nigerians lacking access.

An early prototype released in 2018, the Bliss Solar Lamp, provided low-income and vulnerable communities with clean energy using circuit LED batteries and replacing fire-hazardous kerosene lamps. Since then, the company has responded to feedback and researched further to create a more efficient and sustainable lamp design.

Quadloop later created IDunnu, a solar wall lantern from 70% recycled waste. The portable lantern’s components include a remote control, an automatic daylight sensor, a USB charging port and a rechargeable 10,400 mAh lithium-ion battery.

Projected Growth

Igweilo used his technological and entrepreneurial experience to start Quadloop, with the initial goal of solving rising e-waste and poor energy distribution in Nigeria. The company seeks educational programs, such as training at Lagos business schools, to increase awareness and encourage jobs in renewable energy.

Quadloop has seen significant recognition for creating reliable and renewable energy. In 2020, the Nigeria Climate Innovation Center granted Quadloop $10,000 for future development. In 2021, Igweilo won a Meaningful Business 100 award recognizing entrepreneurs making progress toward the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Now, Quadloop’s goal is to become the foremost indigenous company working toward eliminating the issue of e-waste in Africa. The company aims to expand to neighboring countries like Tanzania and Ghana to help with their similar energy issues.

– Nethya Samarakkodige
Photo: Flickr

Nigeria’s New Lagos-Ibadan Railway

lagos-ibadan railwayThe dilapidated state of Nigeria’s roads, train tracks and other infrastructure has kept 40% of Nigerians under the poverty line as of 2019. In February 2021, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari requested the equivalent of $2.6 billion in funding to address this consistent roadblock, dedicating the majority of the funds to completing a new Lagos-Ibadan Railway. Finished in mid-June 2021, the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway will efficiently connect Nigeria’s largest city with its inland communities. The Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway will aid Nigeria’s impoverished communities by facilitating job creation and increasing national connectivity.

Wealth and Job Creation

The need to create and maintain the railway infrastructure created many jobs for Nigerians. Over its construction period of three years, when builders faced many obstacles that required innovative solutions, the railway provided employment to more than 20,000 Nigerians. Staffing, conducting and maintaining the quality of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway will create an additional 7,000 jobs.

Furthermore, projections determine that the railway will attract many national and foreign investors, especially in Ibadan. Studies by the International Journal of Business and Management Invention and Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development display the large impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on poverty reduction in Nigeria.

A streamlined connection to Lagos will help Ibadan grow and become more of a trade hub. The resulting increased FDI will supplement domestic savings and expand local technology and managerial skills for the economic development of low-income areas.

Transportation and Connectivity

The railroad will extend the lifespan of existing roads and means of transport. It will also lessen congestion for product transportation, minimize maintenance costs and ultimately aid local producers in sustaining a comfortable lifestyle. In 2018, three million passengers utilized Nigerian trains as regular transportation. About 42,000 people utilized the Lagos-Ibadan Railway in June 2021 alone.

Between Lagos and Ibadan, the railway connects eight cities and their surrounding areas. Connecting rural areas to Nigeria’s industry hubs will help incorporate rural populations into urban markets.  For example, a direct connection to the Apapa port facilitates the transportation of goods from Nigeria’s rural areas. About 70% of Nigeria’s workforce are farmers. Direct connection to a port will improve farm productivity, increase annual GDP and reduce poverty.

Looking Forward

Expanding the country’s railway network by 157 kilometers and increasing city access for millions of citizens is a step forward for poverty reduction in Nigeria. Thanks to this infrastructure update, Nigerians celebrate tens of thousands of new jobs, increased investment and more efficient transportation. The Lagos-Ibadan Railway excites Nigerians who hope to continue the spread of connectivity across the country.

– Julia Fadanelli
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

,

Global Citizen Fellowship Fights Poverty

Global Citizen FellowshipThe Global Citizen Fellowship is dedicated to creating solutions that will help alleviate global poverty. The program is based in Nigeria and South Africa. It focuses on encouraging members of the younger generation to join the fight in ending extreme poverty. Some members of the Global Citizen Fellowship have gone far and beyond to help achieve this goal. The program’s #MoveTheWorld Mondays social media movement inspires more people to get involved in ending extreme poverty.

What to Know About The Global Citizen Fellowship

The Global Citizen Fellowship began in 2018 and is open to citizens ages 21 through 25 who reside in Nigeria and South Africa. The inspiration behind creating the program was based on young citizens of Africa suffering from barriers such as unemployment. As a part of the BeyGOOD Initiative, the Global Citizen Fellowship prioritizes a focus on extreme poverty. The purpose of the Global Citizen Fellowship is to provide experiences that will help young people fight to end extreme poverty. One of the components of the Global Citizen Fellowship includes skills development. The 2021 program began in July and will continue through the year.

Global Citizen Fellowship’s Advisory Council

Some of the young people involved in this year’s program are currently members of the advisory council. Bonang Matheba founded the Bonang Matheba Bursary Fund, which advocates for issues such as providing free sanitary products. Aisha Yesufu is involved in the Bring Back Our Girls Movement and has held an entrepreneurial role for more than two decades. Charmaine Houvet is Cisco Africa’s public policy director and works with projects like the Global Broadband Plan for Refugees Project. Hamzat Lawal dedicates efforts to supporting the younger generation and is the leader of Connected Development. Nozipho Tshabalala is a phenomenal leader in the broadcasting field and works with Global Citizen, Learn Reflect Mobilise Grow and the World Bank. Tumi Sole is a corporate attorney fighting for social justice with his organization #CountryDuty.

One Way to Support Global Citizen

One trend created by Global Citizen Live will be beneficial to supporting the fight to end extreme poverty. Global Citizen recently created #MoveTheWorld Mondays to post on social media platforms. The purpose of #MoveTheWorld Mondays is to share one action weekly on Global Citizen’s accounts that can help end extreme poverty. People will have the opportunity to participate in the cause by taking actions shared in each post. One of the benefits of participating in #MoveTheWorld Mondays includes being able to attend events.

The Global Citizen Fellowship, a program created in 2018, encourages young people to join the fight to end extreme poverty. Many Africans, especially the younger generation, suffer from unemployment and other barriers. Therefore, it is important for people to contribute to fighting extreme poverty. Members of the Global Citizen Fellowship’s advisory council express their passion for helping their communities through their occupations. Global Citizen’s #MoveTheWorld Mondays can inspire more people to participate in ending extreme poverty.

– Chloe Moody
Photo: Flickr

Wild4Life: Expanding the Reach of Health Care

Healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa has a direct impact on poverty in the region. When adults are too ill to work, they and their children can quickly fall into extreme poverty, which leads to hunger and malnutrition. Around 46% of Africa’s population lives on less than $1 a day; an even larger proportion than was the case 15 years ago. Despite these challenges, organizations like Wild4Life are working to expand the reach of healthcare into these underserved communities.

Poverty and Health Care in sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is the poorest region in the continent. Close to 60 million children under the age of 17 work instead of attending school in an effort to help their families rise out of poverty. Every fifth child is forced into child labor. This effectively means that when grown, that person will lack education and most likely remain in poverty. This social plight creates a vicious cycle in which chronic malnutrition, growth disorders and physical and mental underdevelopment occur. These health issues further limit an individual’s opportunity to earn a living later in life. In addition, 25 million Africans are infected with HIV, including almost 3 million children — the highest rate of infection in the world. Many of these children have lost one or both parents and are living on the streets.

Government expenditure on healthcare in Africa is very low; typically about $6 per person. This means that medical workers experience huge pressures, operating with little-to-no equipment or means to reach rural populations, Such challenges make healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa difficult to provide.

Good News about Health Care in Rural Communities

The good news is that organizations such as Wild4Life are working to reverse these disturbing healthcare trends. The NGO’s mission is to expand the reach of health services to underserved remote, rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa that have limited or no access to healthcare. To achieve this goal, Wild4Life has developed an incredibly innovative service delivery model. The aim of this model is to reach more people than previously would have been possible. Wild4Life works to establish the basic building blocks of a healthcare system. It believes that a well-functioning system has a lasting effect on a community’s overall health and longevity.

Expansion to Twelve African Countries

The Wild4Life model involves partnering with organizations that are already established in remote locations, and that have put together links with people in the local community. This approach leverages the existing infrastructure, social ties and knowledge bank in cooperation with Wild4Life’s network of health providers. This allows support and treatment to impact some of the hardest-to-reach people and places on earth.

Wild4Life began as an HIV/AIDS program in Zimbabwe, but it has expanded throughout sub-Saharan Africa.  Now operating in twelve countries — Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe —the organization delivers extremely low-cost healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa and provides interventions that are scalable yet sustainable.

Community Partnerships to Improve Health Care

The goals of the NGO include assessing the needs of rural populations and targeting the health issues that most affect them. It also seeks to build clinics in remote areas; strengthen rural healthcare networks; provide quality healthcare and improve community partnerships so that creative ways to address problems become permanent solutions. For example, Wild4Life trains community leaders to mobilize local demands for healthcare services and advocate for quality care from clinic staff and maintain facilities. This results in significant infrastructure improvements. The NGO also organizes events around such topics as improving healthy behaviors and coming up with strategies for the best way to use clinic funds.

Five Clinics in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe alone, Wild4Life has a network of five clinics. These clinics have achieved remarkable results, including hundreds of lives saved by new diagnosis and treatment of HIV as well as other preventable diseases. The organization believes that there is not one single technology or innovation that will create a lasting impact on the health of people living in rural communities. Instead, it partners with all levels of the healthcare system to locate the gaps in the extant setup. By doing this, it hopes to leave behind a resilient, local healthcare system for those who need it most.

During comprehensive clinical mentoring, well-trained, multi-disciplinary teams composed of six specialists comprehensively mentor clinic staffs on primary care conditions. These conditions include HIV, TB, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness and testing for anemia. Such services also aid in labor and delivery. This process also covers monitoring and evaluation of data quality, pharmacy management and clinic management over a two-year period.

Scaling Up to Improve Healthcare in Africa

Wild4Life has significantly scaled up since its inception, through government, nonprofit and for-profit connections. It has gone from delivering care to remote areas, to building healthcare networks in rural populations. As a result of its expansion plan, 70,000 more people will have access to high-quality health services in their communities. By training clinicians and community members in the most up-to-date medical care delivery, the NGO is changing the way that rural healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa is delivered.

– Sarah Betuel

Photo: Flickr

, ,

The END Fund: Treating Neglected Tropical Diseases

the END FundNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of diseases caused by a variety of pathogens that are common in low-income regions. The World Health Organization WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorize 20 diseases as NTDs. They affect more than one billion people around the world, with more than a third of people affected by NTDs living in Africa. While about one-sixth of the world’s population suffers from at least one NTD, more attention is often brought to other diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. While these other diseases require a high level of attention, NTDs need prioritization too. The effects of NTDs can last for decades if proper care is not sought out as many have the ability to bring on permanent blindness and disfigurement. It is of the utmost importance that NTDs are addressed and one such organization putting in the work is the END Fund.

The END Fund

The END Fund is a nonprofit organization that seeks to protect the lives of people at risk of NTDs. It delivers treatments by working with local partners, understanding that these groups have regional expertise and know the needs of their area best.

The END Fund helps its partners design programs so that they can expand their capacity to collect important data regarding NTDs. Further, the END Fund provides technical support and monitors progress so its partners can fight disease in the most effective way possible.

It also collaborates with non-governmental organizations and seeks to involve all stakeholders in order to improve the lives of those at risk of contracting NTDs. The END Fund is active across many countries in sub-Saharan Africa as well as India and Afghanistan. It has programs in Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and others.

NTDs in Nigeria

The country with the greatest prevalence of NTDs in Africa is Nigeria. With a population of 195 million people, five of the most common NTDs are present: intestinal worms, lymphatic filariasis, river blindness, schistosomiasis and trachoma. These diseases can cause severe pain that inhibits people from going about their daily lives. Children miss out on their education and adults miss out on economic opportunities. NTDs can cause the already impoverished to sink even deeper into poverty.

In 2013, the END Fund arrived in Nigeria. Two years later, it partnered with Helen Keller International to support local partners, the Amen Foundation and Mission to Save the Helpless (MITOSATH). It has since helped build the capacity of these groups so that they can respond to the issue of NTDs even stronger. It engaged with local leaders across many levels to make people aware of the treatment plans that are available. Among traditional groups, leaders took medication in front of many people to show that it was safe.

The End Fund’s Impact

In 2019 alone, the END Fund was able to treat 121 million people. The END Fund also trained 2.7 million healthcare workers between 2012 and 2019. Its workers have performed almost 31,000 surgeries during that same time period, with the treatments valued at more than $1 billion.

NTDs pose a great threat to people in developing countries. The END Fund has been able to accomplish a lot through its collaborative projects in Nigeria and across other countries. The END Fund will continue to work toward its vision of ensuring that people at risk of NTDs can live healthy lives.

– Evan Driscoll
Photo: Flickr