IFAC Partners Republic of Azerbaijan For Healthcare Delivery Of African Children

By Wilson Ogbonnaya Okereke

The Director of International Foundation for African Children (IFAC), Ms Angela Onyekachi Joseph has recently smoothened collaboration with Republic of Azerbaijan for healthcare service in Nigeria. In our phone interaction with Ms Joseph shortly after signing a Memorandum of Partnership and Collaboration with the Blood Donors Association of Azerbaijan said that the organization is meant to address critical gaps in healthcare services across Nigeria. According to her, the initiatives is to boost blood donation programnes and ensure that African children particularly Ebonyi State of Nigeria are provided with life-saving medical supports.

“Childhood should be a time of love, joy and boundless potentials but regrettably, for many African children, life continues to be marked by immense challenges that threaten their futures. “In 1980s, a staggering 15 million children worldwide were dying annually from preventable causes, with the highest toll recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa” she said. IFAC boss further disclosed that the organization is designed to empower African children and communities through innovative and sustainable solutions in healthcare. She added that her service would cover education and social development and create a future where every African child would have access to healthcare service, education and opportunities to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. “We are guided by the belief that every child deserves access to quality care and opportunities, thus IFAC is committed in fostering international partnerships to drive the lasting change. “On this note, this partnership with Azerbaijan reflects IFAC’s vision to create a future where African children will find themselves in the communities fully equipped with resources, skills and other supports needed to succeed” She further explained that the world leaders had met at the World Summit for Children in 1990, where they endorsed 27 ambitious goals aimed at improving the health and well-being of children and women by the year 2000. The global commitment inspired a renewed focus on essential needs like health, water, shelter, and food for all. However, in the year 2000, Africa remained plagued by persistent challenges as AIDS alone claimed lives of over 500,000 children while wars ravaging the continent made thousands of the same innocent children to be conscripted into military as child soldiers. Simultaneously, over 40 million African children, predominantly girls were denied access to quality education, undermining their prospects for a sustainable future. She disclosed that it was a result of the dire reality that prompted the formation of IFAC in 2000 by a group of concerned Africans determined to rewrite the narrative of the African child with a mission to tackle these systemic issues head-on. She mentioned the reasons for the partnership to include establishing a collaborative framework for Azerbaijan blood donors to support the contribution in Nigeria and ensure consistent access to life-saving blood supplies. Others include addressing medical support gaps for children in underserved communities particularly in Ebonyi State and other parts of Nigeria, promote knowledge exchange and capacity building of the two countries’ healthcare professionals and build a global alliance to tackle shared healthcare challenges through innovative and other possible solutions. She also added that IFAC focuses on developmental strategies to uplift and empower African children by ensuring that they have the opportunity to thrive.

The Director also said that Ebonyi State was selected for global relevance which would invariably provide her children with the opportunity to benefit directly from the improved blood donation thereby appealed for partnership of both local policy makers and the leaders. “This partnership represents a unique opportunity for Ebonyi State stakeholders, policymakers and community leaders to collaborate with IFAC in expanding the scope and impact of this initiative. "Therefore, IFAC invites all stakeholders to join in this mission to save lives and secure a brighter future for African children” she explained. We learnt that Republic of Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country strategically locates at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. As part of the South Caucasus region, it is bordered by the Caspian Sea in the East, Russia’s Republic of Dagestan in the North, Georgia in the Northwest, Armenia and Turkey in the West and Iran in the South. Its capital Baku, exemplifies Azerbaijan’s unique blend of history and progress. Baku is known for its medieval walled Inner City. Also gathered that IFAC registered by the Federal government of Nigeria through the Corporate Affairs Commission (Charity Registration No. 13058) has been a beacon of hope, working tirelessly to transform the lives of African children through innovative solutions, strategic partnerships and unwavering advocacy.