The Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial (DOAM) Foundation.
As part of an effort aimed at achieving malaria elimination, The Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial (DOAM) Foundation, recently partnered with Bond Chemical Pharmaceutical Company to provide free medical outreach to Leper’s Colony, Ijebu-Igbo and other vulnerable members of the society.
The Foundation’s Senior Programme Officer, Adaeze Anyanna, said the free medical outreach was targeted at people affected with leprosy (PAL) and tuberculosis, including children, youths and the elderly.
She said these people are forced to stay in secluded locations that cut them away from the wider society, reducing opportunities to fend for themselves and have access to basic healthcare delivery.
With the theme ‘Reaching the zero malaria targets’, she added that “these families, who are perceived as scourges to the society were sensitised by the foundation on hygiene measures and malaria management, that is prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Similarly, the foundation’s Programme Officer, Health, Catherine Olukotun, said it was very important to educate people on malaria prevention including proper sanitation within the environment adding that malaria is preventable with the use of mosquito treated nets when sleeping and ensuring drainage areas are kept clean.
The medical outreach programme also included screening and treatments for hypertension, diabetes and vitamins deficiency. Children were administered de-worming drugs and vitamins supplement to boost their immunity, especially in the fight against the COVID-19. Nutritional items such as rice, garri, noodles and vegetable oil, were donated as welfare and relief materials.
Expressing her appreciation, the female leader of the colony, Mrs. Stella Titus, acknowledged the foundation’s effort for bringing the life-saving programme to them despite their health conditions, accessibility and security challenges in the country.
Established in 2007, DOAM Foundation is a charitable, humanitarian, and non-profit organisation, in memory of Master Daniel Ogechi Akujobi, who died from injuries sustained in a road traffic accident on his way back to school along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ogun State. He was the only son of his parents.
The foundation is primarily dedicated to the enhancement of the education and healthcare of less-privileged children and youths in society. It has offered a scholarship to children and has donated libraries and sick bays to schools across Nigeria, including other programmes such as skill acquisition for less privileged women, de-worming of children, mentorship, educational, nutritional and psycho-social support and other life improvement programmes. 85,000 lives have so far been touched by its programmes.
