The 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) survey revealed that 63 per cent of persons living within Nigeria (133 million people) are multi-dimensionally poor. This has led to many Nigerians having limited access to proper nutrition and healthy foods; shelter; safe neighborhoods to learn, live, and work; clean air and water; utilities; and other elements that define an individual’s standard of living.
While it is the duty of the government to cater for the needs of its citizens, the limited financial capacity of most Nigerian government agencies arising from competing demands on public funds, has made reliance on the corporate world for basic amenities very necessary.
The director of Rotary Foundation, Rotarian UK Eke, fittingly puts it when he told NATIONAL ECONOMY weekend that, “There is only so much the government can do to improving the wellbeing of Nigerians, hence the reason why the private sector must step in to complement government’s efforts in re-shaping the country for better.
“Improving the wellbeing of Nigerians is therefore a collective responsibility of all sectors of the economy (public and private) as the dichotomy between public and private becomes irrelevance once we remember that the services are provided for the wellbeing of the citizen, no matter which sector provides them.”
This, no doubt, is the road to making Nigeria a better country, Eke averred even as he disclosed that Rotary International has over the years, assumed a dimension in public service delivery not only for visibility purposes but more importantly as a means of giving back to society.
“Rotary International is the foremost service organisation, founded in 1905. In Nigeria, the first Rotary Club was chartered in 1960. Rotary Club of Lagos, District 9110 was also chartered the same year, making it the foremost Club of all the Rotary Clubs in Nigeria.
“Rotary Club has identified seven key strategic areas to work on, which are maternal and child care; Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); supporting the environment; promoting global peace; resolving conflicts and supporting global communities through financial empowerment and disease prevention,” the director revealed.
The latest act of service to humanity, carried out by Rotary Club of Lagos, district 9110, was the Mobility Aids Project, which brought about succor to people living with disabilities and the aged ones in the society, Eke disclosed.
The president, Rotary Club of Lagos, Rotarian Joseph Akhigbe told NATIONAL ECONOMY weekend that over 1,000 mobility aids were distributed to facilities like the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Yaba, Lagos; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) New International Airport Terminal; Super Parents Foundation; Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre; Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care; Atunda Olu School for the Physically and Mentally Challenged Children, Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted; General Hospital, Gbagada; Lagos Island Maternity Hospital; The Holy Family Home for the Elderly and General Hospital Ikorodu, among others.
So far, Akhigbe revealed that Rotary Club of Lagos had distributed 155 wheelchairs; 696 walkers; 669 crutches; 379 canes; 162 specialty walkers and 127 orthotics to these facilities, adding that the mobility aids were donated by the Rotary Club of Lagos in conjunction with Crutches 4 Africa, with the aim of providing mobility assistance to patients, people living with disabilities and the elderly in the society. The project was carried out as a way of also complementing the efforts of government in improving the health sector in Nigeria, he added.
“We know that public health facilities like LUTH is a federal government funded hospital, but subvention cannot really be enough. So, whatever, organisations like ours can do is a welcome development, we are setting this example for others to follow,” he stated
Narrating how Rotary Club of Lagos got the mobility aids, Akhigbe said, the idea was conceived when he attended the Rotary Convention in Houston, United States, in June 2022, adding that, “I didn’t go there for the sake of the convention, I tried to make friends that will benefit Nigerians and Africans at large.
“It was during the process of making friends that I met the founder of Crutches4Africa, Dave Talbot, a polio survivor. I approached him and I asked what he can do for us, and he promised to give us a container load of mobility aids equipment. He actually fulfilled his promise by sending us a 40 feet container, filled with mobility aids equipment in September 2022. The next step was to set up the Mobility Aids Committee, led by Rotarian UK Eke, that mapped out the beneficiaries of the equipment.”
Beneficiaries of the mobility aids project have however applauded Rotary Club of Lagos for its contribution to improving the health sector and assisting the vulnerable in the society.
For instance, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Toyin Oyeleye, whose left leg was amputated, told NATIONAL ECONOMY that, “Few weeks ago, my leg was amputated, at LUTH. I was planning to buy a crutch to aid my movement. Here we are today. My prayer has been answered as Rotary club just gave me mobility equipment to aid my movement. I am truly grateful for this timely gift,” she said.
NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre, is one of the health facilities that benefited from the Mobility Aids Project. The director, NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre, Dr. Lilian Ekpo, while receiving the donations said, “We are glad to receive these mobility aids and we are absolutely sure that it will be of immense benefit to patients that use this facility.”
Ekpo disclosed that the average persons living with cancer, battle with a lot of issues ranging from financial issues, physical health issues to mobility issues, adding that any form of help is significant and will be gladly accepted.
She said cancer patients, whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body, will benefit from the mobility aids, adding that, “One of the places that cancer spread to is the bone. For instance, breast tumor can metastasise to the spine and patients may now have trouble walking. Sometimes, it may even be the size of the tumor. If the tumor is a tumor of the bone or muscle, the patient may have trouble walking.
“Still, some cancer patients feel weak, due to the treatment or cancer itself and as such, they cannot move around. It is really difficult for such patients to come into the centre or leaving the centre, without mobility support. We also have a significant proportion of patients that are elderly. These patients may struggle with mobility issues from different reasons. We are glad to receive these mobility aids and we are absolutely sure that it will be of immense benefit to patients that use this facility,” she added.
In the same vein, the coordinator, Holy Family Home for the Elderly, Sister Anthonia Adebowale, while receiving the mobility aids on behalf of the old people at the elderly home facility, said the donation is timely, as majority of their mobility aids have worn out.
Adebowale disclosed that there are 15 elderly residents living in the elderly home, of which majority of them have been abandoned by their families.
The coordinator disclosed that almost all the elderly are in need of mobility aids, adding that one major challenge facing the elderly home is fund. Explaining further, she said, “Old age comes with disabilities. Most of our residents cannot walk, they need mobility assistance like the ones donated by Rotary Club, but they are quite expensive.
“For instance, one wheelchair cost about N75,000, Adebowale said, adding that, “Out of the 15 residents living with us, at least 10 of them need mobility aids. We cannot buy for all of them, hence the reason I said this donation is timely. We are so grateful to Rotary Club, Lagos for coming to our aids. I am also using this medium to call on other organisations and philanthropists to follow the steps of Rotary Club.”
Other Organisations Following Suit
Other organisations have also joined efforts with the government in revamping the health sector and improving the wellbeing of Nigerians. For instance, the Lions Clubs International District 404-A1 had also inaugurated a 32-bed dialysis Centre and Renal Institute at the LUTH.
The Centre which was built in memory of Isaac Olusola Dada, a former district governor of the club, would improve the overall healthcare delivery system in the country and would reduce medical tourism, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said.
In the same vein, the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited, through its Health Support Programme (HSP), has also doled out $6 million to uplifting specific health facilities in 12 tertiary health institutions across six geo-political zones in Nigeria.
The Board of Nigeria LNG approved the investment of $6 million for uplifting of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, Abuja; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano; University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin; Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Yenagoa, and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Cross Rivers State among others.
Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry the Alima Atta Oncology Centre, a new 60-bed facility, which was built and equipped for LUTH by Mrs. Iyabo Atta, in remembrance of Alima, her late daughter, who had lived an exemplary life devoted to the care of others.
This philanthropist, who seeks no limelight, erected and equipped the Alima Atta Oncology Centre for the care of cancer patients at a cost of over N1.5 billion.
Other organisations who have joined the wagon of improving humanity include, MTN Nigeria Communications, who delivered personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) through MTN Nigeria Foundation and Zenith Bank PLC spent a sum of N3.29 billion as donations and charitable gifts in 2020, of which N1.4 billion was directed to various state government infrastructure and Security Trust Funds. The bank also donated N100 million towards Lagos State (Abule-Ado) emergency relief fund.
Dangote cement which was adjudged as the best company in CSR by public relations professionals in Lagos State, on efforts to help the vulnerable at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, also spent N2.9 billion on sponsorships and charitable donations in 2020.
