Nigeria Makes Great Strides In Healthcare

The house of representatives has passed a bill authorising free healthcare for pregnant women in the country.

The bill seeks to mandate free antenatal and postnatal health services to pregnant women in government hospitals.

Sponsored by Tony Nwoye from Anambra state, the bill was presented at plenary on Thursday.

If passed into law, women would be able to receive up to three months of free medical services after child delivery.

During previous debates on the bill, Nwoye had explained it would also address discrimination against pregnant women in their place of work.

He said the bill would ensure that every pregnant woman in the country is registered in a government hospital within three months of conception.

“Funding for the programmes for the bill is expected to come from funds earmarked for the basic healthcare provision fund and statutory provisions from the federal budget,” he said.


Culled from Cable

Join us in our quest to end extreme poverty in Africa!

Not everyone is fortunate to see their dreams come true. Many Africans still go to bed hungry today. Living in extreme poverty has led to many sad cases of child abuse and domestic violence; people are dying from preventable diseases; the rate of maternal and child mortality is increasing daily and unemployment is at an all time high. Some of us need that little push to help make our dreams a reality and escape poverty.

Save Our Needy is primarily focused on ending extreme poverty through the promotion of education for vulnerable and disadvantaged children as well as youth and women empowerment. We also raise awareness for killer diseases including AIDS and malaria.

We are calling on all kind-hearted, generous individuals, companies and organizations sharing our vision to kindly support our various causes and programs.

Kindly visit our website to know more about our activities: www.saveourneedy.org

Follow us on Twitter: @SaveOurNeedy

Like Us on Facebook: facebook.com/SaveOurNeedy

You can send us an email: saveourneedy@gmail.com
Call 09025600734 or 08151546111.

Your donations in cash or kind will make a HUGE difference.

Please send all cash donations to:

Save Our Needy Organisation
0168556004
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank)
Nigeria.

Kindly check our website for other options of making donations or contributing to make our projects attainable.

THANK YOU!!!

Plea For Support For Mr. Olanrewaju

Esther's uncle, Mr. Olanrewaju suffered a stroke in January this year. The stroke has left him unable to speak and use his limbs. He is presently hospitalized. His family cannot afford to pay his hospital bills because his wife, Mrs. Bola Olanrewaju is just a petty trader who barely makes 500 naira (less than $2) a day. The couple have four children; two boys and two girls aged 5years - 17 years.
They live at Muhammad street, Jesu nbo, Etegbin road, Shibiri, Ojo, Lagos.

Mrs. Bola Olanrewaju with the financial support given by Save Our Needy

Save Our Needy reached out to Mrs.Olanrewaju and her children after hearing about his plight from his niece, Esther. The SON team visited them at their abode and donated food items, clothing and cash to help ease their pains. Mr. Olanrewaju was absent because he is still in the hospital.

Mrs. Olanrewaju and Esther

The family desperately needs help. Mrs. Olanrewaju hopes to expand her business so she can cater particularly for her sick husband and children. She needs to be economically empowered. Two of the children are presently out of school due to lack of funds to pay their school fees. Their future is uncertain. They need to be educated so they can be better prepared for the future.

Please support this family. They need your help. You can send in your donations to:

Save Our Needy Organisation
0168556004
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank)

Kindly visit our website to see other methods of donation: www.saveourneedy.org

''A little effort goes a long way.''

Thank you and God bless.

Marvella Odili, CEO, Save Our Needy in a selfie with Esther

''Light Up The Beach'' AIDS Memorial event

Save Our Needy joined the rest of the world on Sunday, May 15th, to mark the 33rd International AIDS Candlelight Memorial under the theme "Light Up The Beach."

Motunrayo Adebayo, facilitator from Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, interacting with participants

The event which held at Elegushi Beach, Lagos (Eden Bar), was an opportunity to honor all those who have passed away from AIDS. In a relaxed ambience, participants were better educated and informed about basic facts of HIV/AIDS by Mr. Motunrayo Adebayo, a facilitator from the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA).

Awareness raising on HIV/AIDS was also done at the event

One of the high points of the event was the interactive session with Chioma, who discovered her HIV status at the age of 15. She had unfortunately been subjected to contaminated blood transfusion at the age of 3! She relived her experiences which induced gasps from everyone present. It was indeed eye opening.

A ONE Champion was also on hand to shed more light on the current sad state of the Nigerian health system and the need for drastic reform and investments in the sector. He explained to participants the need to sign the petition on the one.org website urging the Nigerian government to increase budget allocation to the health sector under the theme "Make Naija Stronger.

At the end of the event, participants lit candles as a symbol of respect for all those who have died from AIDS.

Juwon of Mimer's Art thrilled participants at the event

Save Our Needy Program Manager, Jerry Odili, with Juwon of Mimer's Art

The CEO of Save Our Needy, Marvella Odili, expressed her satisfaction at the successful hosting of the event despite the heavy downpour..

From left: CEO, Save Our Needy, Marvella Odili, ONE members, Richard Emerenwa (middle), ONE Champion

MAKE NAIJA STRONGER: ONE Kicks Off Health Campaign In Nigeria

ONE Campaign, co-founded by Bono of U2, on April 25th, launched its health campaign in Nigeria "Make Naija Stronger."

The event which attracted dignitaries from the Federal Ministry of Health, NGOs and celebrities took place at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Lagos.

Panelists at the event

Dignitaries included Mwambu Wanendeya (ONE Executive Director, Africa), Edwin Dan-Ikhuoria, (ONE Country Representative), Waje (Award-winning singer, philanthropist and ONE Ambassador), Dr. Francis Ukwuije (Representative of Federal Ministry of Health), Rotimi Sankore (Coordinator, Africa Health, Human & Social Development, AFRIDEV), Dr. Ben Anyene (Chairman, BOT, HERFRON), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu (Nigeria Health Watch, EpiAfric), Representative of Centre For The Right To Health, Dr. Nkem Onyejizu (ONE Champion), Marvella Odili, (CEO, Save Our Needy) and a representative of Mamalette NGO.

Award-winning singer and ONE Ambassador, Waje with ONE Executive Director, Africa, Wanendeya Mwambu

Dr. Frank Ukwuije, representative from Federal Ministry of Health giving his speech

Marvella Odili with Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (ONE media director)

One of the highlights of the event was the speech given by Mr Ausbet Udebu, invited as one of the special guests, (who recently lost his wife, Ngozi Udebu to LUTH inadequate healthcare system). It was emotional as well as eye opening to the malfunction that plagues the Nigerian healthcare system today.

Ausbet Udebu, (who recently lost his wife at LUTH due to an inadequate health system) making his speech

An emotional video showing the visit of award-winning singer, philanthropist and ONE ambassador, Waje, to Mr. Udebu and his children at their home, was also played.

Everyone got emotional as Mr. Udebu's video was shown to the audience

ONE hopes through this health campaign to urge the Nigerian government to increase budget allocation to healthcare as well as accelerate the much-needed reform to the health sector.

Everyone at the event agreed that the Nigerian health sector is in dire need of investments and reform.

L-R: Gwadamirai Majange (ONE Campaigns Officer, Africa) and Marvella Odili

ONE Executive Director, Africa, Mwambu Wanendeya flanked by Marvella Odili, CEO, Save Our Needy and Jerry Odili, Program Manager, Save Our Needy

 No Nigerian should die needlessly due to inadequate and a malfunctioning healthcare system.

Join us to sign the petition here: https://www.one.org/africa/take-action/make-naija-stronger/

Together, we can #MakeNaijaStronger

Nigerian Mother Of Four Loses Her Life Due To Inadequate Health System

Mrs Ngozi Udebu, a Nigerian mother of four, lost her life in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on Friday, March 25th, 2016, which incidentally is Good Friday.

A devout Catholic, the late Mrs. Udebu started complaining of abdominal pains after her return from the church where she had gone to worship with her husband, Mr. Ausbet Udebu and their four daughters.

She was observing her monthly cycle which is usually managed with medications to reduce
the pain. Due to the severity of the pains, her husband rushed her to a private hospital. The couple was later referred to LUTH for further diagnosis and treatment.

On arrival at LUTH at about 9pm that day, this case which was clearly an emergency case as Mrs.
Udebu was seriously writhing in pains was treated with laxity. Mr. Udebu was asked if he was registered with the hospital, he answered in
the affirmative but could not remember his family's registration number. He was told he had to get a new one. While this extremely slow
procedure was being executed, his wife was left unattended to in her excruciatingly painful condition.

Late Mrs. Ngozi Udebu

Mrs. Udebu went through some tests and a scan, and the results were ready before 7am the next morning. Mr. Udebu took the results to the doctors, but he was asked to wait until they were ready for the ward rounds. After about an hour, a doctor was finally available to check on her. He confirmed that she was stable except that the scan revealed some trace of ulcer. The doctor prescribed Gascol and an injection which were not readily available at LUTH!!!

Mr. Udebu quickly rushed to buy the prescription outside the hospital premises which he luckily got. This took about an hour. After administering the drug and injection, Mrs. Udebu had no visible relief. The doctor then prescribed another brand of injection called IV NEXIUM. Again, Mr. Udebu quickly rushed out to buy the injection. TALK OF A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL WHERE THE PATIENTS ARE MADE TO PURCHASE EVERYTHING WHILE PRECIOUS TIME THAT WOULD HAVE SAVED
THE PATIENT'S LIFE IS BEING WASTED!!! The emergency unit where Mrs. Udebu was kept had NO POWER and POOR VENTILATION. Mr. Udebu had to use the flashlight of his phone to assist the doctor in finding his wife’s vein. He was physically using a handfan to give his wife air because she was sweating profusely and having difficulty breathing due to the stuffy condition, coupled with a malfunctioning window directly opposite her bed which could not be opened.

By Sunday, 27th March, Mrs. Udebu (a patient who had now developed breathing problems after spending 48hrs in a very hot emergency unit with little ventilation) was moved out of the emergency unit to the female ward because according to the doctor, patients are moved out of the emergency ward after 24hrs and she had spent 48hrs.

Since the beginning of this travail, Mr. Udebu never left his wife's side due to the fact that he perceived a certain lack of professionalism and necessary care on the part of the staff of LUTH.

When it was night, he was told that no patient’s relation would be allowed to stay in the ward. Mrs. Udebu's younger sister even volunteered to stay and help her out in case of any need. The nurses bluntly refused, saying it was against hospital policy. Mrs. Udebu definitely would have fared better with someone by her side to help out if something eventually went wrong. She obviously needed care and support but the nurses decided to stick to the hospital policy.

During this time, Mrs. Udebu's condition consistently deteriorated and she needed oxygen to stay alive. LUTH SAID THEY HAD NO OXYGEN MASK!!! Mr. Udebu did not have much choice but to rush out, yet again, to get one.

Mr. Udebu bought an oxygen mask and his wife was placed on oxygen. Her breathing became slightly improved. Mrs. Udebu, in her weak state pleaded with the nurses to permit her husband or her younger sister spend the night with her as she needed someone by her side but her plea was equally turned down. "Daddy, don’t go" was Mrs. Udebu’s mournful cry asking her husband to stay back. Mr. Udebu was asked to leave and was almost forced out of the ward.

Defeated and dejected, he reluctantly left with his sister in-law at about 11pm. At about 6am the next morning, Mr. Udebu returned to see his wife in company of his oldest daughter Christabelle, to offer her much-needed support and attention but to their deepest shock, the curtain over her bed was already drawn.

Mr. Udebu immediately suspected something eerie had happened. He instantly knew, but did not want to believe that his wife of fifteen years and mother to his four children was gone. Mrs. Ngozi Udebu died in the early hours of the morning. The pain of her loss cut even deeper because nobody contacted the family when she died. Her husband was rudely hit by the reality of his beloved wife’s death on arrival at the ward!

EVERYTHING ABOUT LUTH IS WRONG!!! A ward with more than 35 patients has only two nurses
available to attend to them. A patient gasping for breath and cannot be moved to intensive care unit.
Lack of BASIC drugs and most painful of all, OXYGEN MASK!!! IN A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL?
THIS IS UNIMAGINABLE. Worse still, inaccessibility to a doctor when a patient’s case gets critical.

Throughout the three days Mrs. Udebu spent at LUTH, she could not empty her bowel.The doctors were informed but they did nothing about it. It was her husband who tried to induce it but he did not succeed. Are there no procedures and medications
the doctors could have administered to help her? A lack of ventilation (even in form of a fan) in the emergency ward! This must have complicated Mrs. Udebu’s breathing difficulty.The toilet area was completely submerged.The pool of water was more than 4inches high from the entrance to two toilets; no patient could use it for those two days. Mr. Udebu used putty as urine receptacle for his wife. It was a horrible sight to behold.

Gross negligence, neglect and nonchalance by members of staff of LUTH. The doctors concluded that her death was caused by ulcer even before an autopsy was carried out.After the release of the results, it was stated that she died of asphyxia to everyone's surprise. Asphyxia is the loss of consciousness due to the body's inability to deliver oxygen to its tissues. What is the relationship between Asphyxia and Ulcer which was the doctor's ‘diagnosis’? This is shameful, sad, disheartening, disappointing and above all disgraceful for Nigeria’s prime health
institution.

The nurse on duty when confronted that they may not have known when Mrs. Udebu passed on, said that she died at 3am. She claimed that they battled to save her life. In order to buttress her claim, she showed an oxygen gauge which she said they changed when they realized that it wasn’t functioning. Well, who knows if Mrs. Udebu was still alive when they realized that the oxygen gauge was malfunctioning? NEGLIGENCE OF STAFF!! A PATIENT LIKE MRS. UDEBU WHO WAS PLACED ON OXYGEN AND COULDN’T BREATHE? WASN’T THERE SUPPOSED TO BE SOMEONE WHO WOULD CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR A PATIENT IN SUCH CRITICAL CONDITION WHEN HER FAMILY WAS DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THE NIGHT WITH HER??? HOW CAN LUTH BE USING ANTIQUATED OXYGEN EQUIPMENT IN THIS TIME AND AGE OF ELECTRONICS?

Mrs. Ngozi Udebu was a charming, vibrant woman who was so full of life. An epitome of humility, happiness, peace and grace. She was a God-fearing mother of four amazing daughters, a wife to Mr. Austin Udebu, a well-respected Teacher at St. Finbarr's College, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos and an amazing friend to many.

Certain mistakes could have been avoided but for the legendary negligent tradition of LUTH. Out of
the many people who have heard this story, not one person has had anything good to say about
LUTH because they have had personal experiences with them as well. The recurring verdict is that LUTH does not value any human
life at all. Life is short, Life is cruel, and Life can be Just.

Story culled from : SDK blog
http://www.stelladimokokorkus.com/2016/04/luth-accused-of-negligence-resulting-in.html

Story narrated by: Quincy Roberts

Edwin Dan Ikhuoria Pens Open Letter To President Buhari

ONE Country representative, Nigeria, Mr. Edwin Dan Ikhuoria, penned an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria's president, urging him to honor promises made during the adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) in New York and invest more in the Nigerian health sector.
Read the letter below:

Dear President Buhari,

Honour the 2001 Abuja declaration and deliver a genuinely Pro-Poor 2016 Budget.

We thank you for prioritising the needs of the poorest Nigerians, and the fight against corruption in your recent proposals. Your leadership on both is timely as the start of your presidency (2015) was marked by the Country’s adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). If followed through, these proposals and the new SDG commitments will create a new Nigeria, as they will unleash opportunities that will transform our country, our continent, and the world. We are writing because we want to help you realise these goals. We believe the starting point is through bold and targeted pro-poor public investments spelt out in your 2016 budget.

Specifically, we salute you for your stated commitment to spread basic health benefits to a majority of Nigerians because access to basic health care in the country is still the privilege of a few.

Mr. Edwin Ikhuoria

Secondly, we commend your commitment to ensure that Nigeria’s wealth is shared with the poorest
Nigerians and that they are given a lift through the planned social welfare program. Regarding the health focus, we are sure you are aware Mr. President that our great country, Nigeria, is amongst the
worst places in the world to be a child,infant or mother. This is because one in eleven of all children who die in the world under the age 5 are Nigerian. Every year, 58,000 Nigerian infants receive HIV from their mothers during childbirth – a completely preventable tragedy for want of pills that cost a few Naira. No country in the world, not even in South Africa with its large HIV burden has more babies still acquiring HIV from their mothers. This is a glimpse of the situation we believe your administration has a historic opportunity to reverse, starting with the upcoming 2016 Budget, particularly by implementing the key provisions of the 2014 National Health Act (NHA). We urge you to ensure that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund provided in the NHA (which requires 1% of the consolidated revenue fund) is provided for as NEW funding to be invested in child vaccines, expansion and upgrade of health facilities, research and human capital development to address key communicable diseases.

Without these investments, the economy will continue to lose billions of Naira through Nigerians that travel abroad to access medical services, while the poor continue to die from treatable and
preventable diseases. A healthy population is truly the best insurance we can have for our economy to thrive. This was the main premise of the 2001 Africa Union “Abuja Declaration” where the leadership of the continent right here in Abuja, committed to prioritizing the development of the health sector by investing 15% of their national budget to the health sector. Rwanda, Swaziland, Ethiopia, Malawi, the Central African Republic and Togo have kept this promise. Countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia are reaping great benefits, not only in the health of their population but also in sustained economic growth. Nigeria keeping this promise in the 2016 budget would translate in not less than N900 billion for Health, in view of the proposed N6 trillion budget. We implore you to move the Nigerian Government in Abuja boldly towards living up to its commitment in the “Abuja Declaration”.

Your Excellency, malnutrition in Nigeria remains a silent killer that must be stopped. It particularly affects mothers and children. It contributes to the deaths of about half a million children each year. In Nigeria, 36% of children younger than 5 years are stunted. Because it is a slow burner, its impact is not obvious but cumulative over generations. Nigeria as part of the African Union in 2014, pledged to work towards reducing this number to less than 10%. To ensure that Nigeria’s children have a fair shot at life, we also respectfully request nutrition specific investments in the 2016 health and agriculture budgets that address the stunting and wasting among Nigerian children, especially girls. The planned social welfare programmes must help achieve this objective. To ensure the potential multiplier and sustainable effects of the feeding programs, we recommend that they must be delivered through locally sourced nutritious produce which would directly boost markets for local agriculture. This approach will ensure that this expenditure is not merely consumption but spurs long term production and employment especially of Nigeria’s small holder farmers and young people. The success of the social welfare program pilots will need these elements and require inter-ministerial coordination managed by a senior political champion.
 

President Buhari

When the world meets in Rio De Janeiro in 2016 to take stock on actions and progress in the fight against high level of malnutrition, a successful implementation of this type of social welfare program, will demonstrate Nigeria’s leadership on this pressing matter. Mental health is another area where there is an overwhelming impact on the poor, yet fewer than 10% of sufferers receiving any treatment at all. All these urgent priorities across health, agriculture, school feeding and social safety payments must target to lift up the poorest, and be administered through accountable national and local budgets that are transparently implemented. This will help targeted beneficiaries to monitor and provide automatic feedback to improve program delivery and limit pilferage. We therefore call upon you to fully open the budget making, approval, implementation and evaluation process to the common Nigerian. Let Nigerians help you in holding your government to account on the promises that you made, and the reason that they serve. Within our current resource levels, high levels of citizen’s engagement will triple the impact of the budget. We believe your bold leadership on these issues will catalyze and guarantee economic expansion and sustainable inclusive growth that ensures that Nigeria leads the world on SDG progress starting in 2016.

Your Excellency, you have shown the political will to move our country forward in the pursuit of social justice, economic diversification and transparency for the benefit of each and every Nigerian. The eyes of the world are on Nigeria’s 2016 budget. We urge you to make fighting preventable diseases and malnutrition a hallmark of your legacy. A healthier Nigerian population would help our great nation leap-frog economically and socially by 2030.

Signed by: ONE campaign and 24 other well-meaning NGOs.

Visit To Voice Of Salvation Motherless Babies Home

Our visit to Voice of Salvation Motherless Babies Home in the local community of Ojo, Lagos State, opened our eyes to the plight of orphans and abandoned children in Africa, especially in Nigeria.

During this very fruitful and enriching visit, vulnerable children between the ages of 1 and 10 benefited from various items including food items, clothes, footwear, buckets, plates, toiletries and schoolbags donated by Save Our Needy. 

This visit gave us first-hand knowledge of the hardship and suffering faced by these children. Their caregiver, Mr.Onyeagu explained to us how difficult it has been to care for these children. They have pressing  financial issues: they need funds for kerosene to cook, send the children to school, buy books, get medical care for the children, repair their generating sets (to get light when power fails) and even fuel to keep their generating sets going. Please donate to a worthy cause. These children need our love and support in order to become useful citizens and responsible adults tomorrow. 

We would like to thank Mr. Andrew Akindele,( Systems Manager, State of Ohio, USA), for his generous donation to this project. Thank you very much, sir. May the good Lord reward you immensely for putting smiles on the faces of the little ones.

Our sincere gratitude also goes to Mr. Hamdi Zaghbib,(2012 President of JCI Metline, Tunisia) for his contribution to the purchase of the schoolbags.

L-R: Mr. Onyeagu and the Save Our Needy team (Taiwo Bamidele and Marvella Odili)

Schoolbag donated by Save Our Needy under the 'One Child, One Schoolbag' Project

The Save Our Needy team with Mr. Onyeagu, caregiver at Voice of Salvation Motherless Babies Home

Happy kids showing off their schoolbags

Bucket donated by Save Our Needy

Excited children with their schoolbags