Foundation tasks government to address poverty among Nigerians

.Calls for more awareness on SCD, maternal mortality others

The founder, Seyifara Foundation, a non-profit organisation, Oluwaseyi Adediran, and a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Adediran Adeniran, have tasked political leaders on the need to take cogent measures that will address the challenges of poverty among Nigerians.

The duo when speaking with The Guardian Newspapers, said while it is imperative of political leaders, who are holding public offices to initiate policies that will improve the welfare of Nigerians, private people in their individual and collective capacities, should also be committed to programmes and initiatives that will improve the livelihood of the most vulnerable and less privileged in the country.

Adediran, while using the data produced by National Bureau of Statistics on poverty rate for last year, which indicated that 43 percent of Nigerians (89 million people) live below the poverty line, while another 25 percent (53 million) are vulnerable, said those figures are mind burgling of which not only the government should be left to address, he harped on the collaboration of the private sector.

As for Seyifara Foundation, Adediran said the Non-Governmental outfit aims to eradicate poverty and hunger, reduce child mortality, and improve maternal health and provide access to education for vulnerable children between 0 to 10 years.

He said the foundation has been doing this over the years as part of its contributions to help Nigeria reduce its poverty level, of which he said, “Seyifara Foundation welcomes partnerships and collaborations that would further enhance the targeted goals.”

According to him, “Our three focus areas include Primary Healthcare, education, hunger and the goal is to provide free and quality primary healthcare services, quality education for the less privileged and vulnerable children and to eradicate poverty and hunger in the rural area.”

He disclosed that Seyifara Foundation has successfully provided essential primary healthcare services to pregnant women and children between the age of 0 to 5 years in order to eliminate Under-5 Mortality Rates (U5MR) through its Social Health Project. Several of these interventions have been held in Oyo State in collaboration with the government under which over 5000 nursing mothers and pregnant women have been helped.

The foundation has also enhanced rural economic activities and achieved sustainable economic empowerment using agriculture as an economic tool through its Social Agriculture Project just as its activities over the years have helped to reduce pregnancy-related mortality to zero and morbidity to the barest minimum, especially across the Southwest states and part of the northern states.

According to him, “ The foundation, which has its registered office at 6A Rakatand Shopping Complex, Eleha, Iyana Church, Ibadan, Oyo State, aimed to become the foremost non-profit organisation providing solutions to poverty-related problems in Africa.”

The BoT member, Adeniran, while speaking on a recent intervention the foundation had at the Public Health Centre (PHC), Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State, where 150 pregnant women and nursing mothers were reached, said the event was part of the foundation’s means of eradicating maternal and child mortality in the country.

He posited that Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is a pressing concern, urged support for pregnant and nursing mothers, especially those from the rural areas, which according to him, are mostly affected mainly due to lack of awareness and poverty level.

He said that in over 5,000 cases of maternal and child mortality cases, Seyifara Foundation had intervened even to the extent of giving donations for caesarean operations where needed.

The foundation, while appealing to the government for more medical facilities in that direction, also urged individuals and foundations to assist in the area.

The foundation presented baby clothes and other items to over 50 women during the event, saying that the gesture was borne out of the passion to assist as well as save the lives of the vulnerable pregnant women and nursing mothers that are in need.

In addition, the foundation also appealed to Nigeria leaders both at the federal and state levels to develop strategies aimed at reducing the challenges of Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) carriers in the country.

It said SCD is not a death sentence because persons with it can live normal, long, productive lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Both Adeniran and Adediran, urged the National Assembly to come up with appropriate legislation that would help in mitigating the challenges of SCD carriers, just as they appealed to religious leaders to educate their members appropriately about the disease.

They said it was worrisome that available statistics show that about 90 per cent of the world’s SCD population lives in Nigeria, India and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the disease affects up to two per cent of the population.

“That evidence suggests or shows that Nigeria has the largest population of persons affected with sickle cell disorder globally and considering the pains victims pass through, it should be a thing of concern to us all,” they posited.

They disclosed that part of Seyifara’s Foundation’s efforts to bring reprieve to SCD carriers was its partnership with the Oyo State government, not only to mark the 2024 year’s World Sickle Cell Day, but also to make donations both in cash and kind to those suffering from the disease.

They noted: “Part of our collaborative efforts are aimed at raising awareness, providing medical support and fostering community engagement to combat sickle cell disease. The foundation is also involved in a series of activities including health screenings, educational workshops and the distribution of free medications to individuals living with sickle cell disease.

“These efforts underscore the commitment of both parties to enhancing the quality of life for those affected by this hereditary blood disorder.

“Seyifara’s mission is to bring hope and tangible assistance to those living with sickle cell disease. By partnering with the Oyo State government, we can leverage resources and reach a broader audience to deliver critical healthcare services and legislation.”