Physical Health Nigeria Project #19628

Delivering Health and Hope to Nigeria's Poor

by The GEANCO Foundation

Delivering Health and Hope to Nigeria's Poor

Project Report | Jun 20, 2016
GEANCO's CGI Anemia and Education Programs

By Afam Onyema | Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer

Donated computers to all-girls school in Nigeria

Our Clinton Global Initiative Anemia Program

Our screening of vulnerable women and children for anemia in southeast Nigeria continues on. Anemia is a condition in which not enough healthy red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. The poor blood oxygen levels and blood vessel blockages that result lead to chronic, agonizing pain, severe infections, organ failure and potential death.

Nigeria has the world's largest anemia-afflicted population - 75% of its children have the condition, and 1 out of every 5 maternal deaths can be traced to anemia.

Testing for anemia is often not performed in Africa because it traditionally has required invasive blood draws and laboratory analysis, which are often not available, or too expensive. This program of non-invasive testing can therefore have a significantly positive impact maternal and child health outcomes.

Through the Clinton Global Initiative, we partner with the medical technology company Masimo Inc. to screen and treat women and children in Nigeria for anemia quickly and painlessly.

We have screened over 8500 women and children in Nigeria. Since we are the only group in Nigeria using Masimo’s advanced, noninvasive technology, it is almost certain that none of these vulnerable Nigerians would have been tested for anemia but for this special program.

Starting in January 2016, we began covering the costs of anemia treatment for up to 60 poor and vulnerable pregnant women and young children in Nigeria a month.

Our Education Program

With a generous donation from Oprah Winfrey, we donated 24 laptops and a diesel generator to a primary school in Enugu, Nigeria in October 2015.

In January 2016, the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer donated 20 laptops to us, which we in turn gifted to clinics and libraries throughout southeast Nigeria.

In March and April 2016, we provided desktop computers and science & lab equipment to an all-girls school in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.

We are also selected girls for our David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for Girls. The scholarship will cover tuition, room, board, books and supplies for those directly impacted by Boko Haram. Recipients will include girls who were captured by Boko Haram, those forced to flee their homes, and girls whose parents or caretakers were murdered by the group. Three scholarships will be awarded for this upcoming school year. The number of scholarships offered may increase each year depending on capacity and available funding.

Scholarship recipients will attend the Anglican Girls Grammar School (AGGS) in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. A secondary school for students aged 10 - 15, AGGS is an academic Center of Excellence known for its strong emphasis on science and math. For girls dealing with instability and insecurity, this all-girls boarding school offers a safe and nurturing learning environment. In the future, David Oyelowo Leadership Scholars will be placed at other high-achieving schools in Nigeria.

Donated chemistry lab to all-girls school

Students in donated chemistry lab

Oyelowo with scholarship seed funder Ms. Winfrey

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