The Sustainable Education and Livelihoods Foundation (SELF), in keeping with its objective of empowering communities by enhancing access to and raising awareness of preventative health services, has announced plans to implement a health and well-being programme in Pella.
This gesture, according to SELF’s Executive Director, Hyellagiziya Naiwa Fakuta, reflects her organisation’s ongoing dedication to improving people’s quality of life by empowering and building local relationships. It also symbolises a watershed moment in her group’s efforts to address the vital health requirements of citizens.
The politician, who is now a human rights campaigner, stated that her organisation’s work with Pella Women in Health Primary Health Care Centre illustrates their commitment to ensuring the best use of existing healthcare facilities in the country.
Pella, like many other communities in Nigeria, is confronted with several health issues. Thousands of lives are lost each year as a result of a lack of access to basic health services, proper awareness of preventive measures, and inadequate healthcare delivery. Fakuta revealed that these problems influenced the programme’s design, with the hope that these efforts will bridge current gaps and equip individuals to take steps that improve their health and overall well-being.
She went on to say that it was also meant to complement various government and development partner initiatives aimed at accelerating the provision of sustainable health and advancing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3), which calls for ensuring that everyone in the state and beyond has access to good health and wellbeing.
“We are at a tipping point in our history when it comes to addressing our people’s critical health needs. This life-saving effort, we believe, will have an impact on the national health landscape as well as the Pella community’s future,” Fakuta, who contested for the Federal House of Representatives in Adamawa State during the 2023 elections, said.
To achieve this goal, she urged everyone to continue to uphold the values that promote sustainable living, embrace the spirit of care, support one another, invest in humanitarian efforts that foster healthier, more resilient communities, and harness the power of collaboration and determination to drive positive change and set precedent for responsible stewardship in the country’s health sector.
“At SELF, our motto, “Dare to Care,” embodies our commitment to go beyond the norm and actively engage in meaningful humanitarian service,” SELF’s executive director asserts.
When asked why his organisation opted to support the initiative, Pharm Jesse Chidama, founder of the Jesse Chidama Care Foundation, hinted that it was because of the influence that SELF has exhibited in the state and beyond.
“I have been following the work of the Sustainable Education and Livelihoods Foundation (SELF) closely and have witnessed the significant impact it has on the lives of our people, especially the youth,” he said.
In the same spirit, another collaborator, Dr. Emmanuel Musa, president of the Emnamu Foundation, disclosed that his organisation chose to partner with SELF on this medical outreach because of their proven expertise, strong community engagement, and shared commitment to improving healthcare access and education.
As a result, he encouraged all members of this community, particularly women and young people, to take advantage of the life-changing programme to help create a healthier and more prosperous future for all.
“Together, we aim to maximise our impact and create lasting improvements in health outcomes for underserved communities,” he stated.
By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja
