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THE HEALTHY TRANSITION

With her toothless grin and wrinkled skin, as testaments of the blessing of the ages, but with contagious energy and wit, “There are stories on the lips of the elder” the old lady said as she retells old memories of Kupto. During its days of lack of amenities (healthcare and water) and how it transitioned to its present state. She gave birth to thirteen children all on her own at home because there is no hospital close by at the time. However, when they eventually had one, she was part of the people that encouraged women to deliver at the hospital to avoid complications which are mostly due to bleeding in her role as a traditional birth attendant.

“This was not our original community we were by the river bank before they moved us here,” she said. “In the old one, I gave birth to my twelve children there and came and gave birth to one here; during that time, there was no hospital; when the hospital came to Bajoga, they had to take you on foot to go see the doctor but I thank God, I finished having my children without any problem and without going to the hospital. I deliver in my room; In the past, there was no hospital but when we came here, they built a maternity hospital. I was given the mandate of going around to encourage women to go to the hospital. I was a traditional birth attendant and I was asked to help women to the hospital when they want to deliver but when there is an emergency delivery, I help them deliver at home.”

Now, with a functional hospital close to them, members of the Kupto community are relieved of the stress of traveling far to access healthcare. Not only this, even women from neighboring communities such as the Fulani settlement also come to use the health facility built by ActionAid in Kupto.

“We didn’t have water in this town; we have to carry bowls to our old town where there is a stream to fetch water; we don’t have water here. Where we used to go to fetch water before now is if not up to a mile, it will be more; (struggling to tell the distance) it’s far!” She exclaimed. “When God brought these organizations, (ActionAid and Hope for the Lonely) we thank God. We have a borehole here and it is still working. Both the young and old, those in town and villages are drinking from the water” Mama added.

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THE LUCKY COMMUNITY

Stretching out for miles without any sign of civilization, in what appears to be a people forgotten by its government; left to fend for themselves, is Panguru. Panguru is a hard-to-reach community in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe state. The journey to Panguru in the beginning, seemed like a travel to nowhere. The land is vast, with terrains so rugged, and the ground, partly rocky and stickily muddy at the same time. To traverse this area in the rainy season, they say, is considered an act of bravery. However, ActionAid was not deterred!

Madam Victoria, as she is popularly called, the community facilitator, Panguru. She shared with so much excitement, how they ended up being a beneficiary community when ActionAid and its partners were rejected from a previous community. “I want to thank these organizations because we have benefitted a lot from them and we count ourselves lucky because the first community they went to, they were rejected, before coming to our community; which that community is now regretting now seeing all that we have gained,” she remarked.

The presence of ActionAid and its partners in Panguru has empowered the women. This was achieved through capacity-building training. in areas such as education, peaceful co-existence, household education, hygiene, human rights, and sustainable farming. “At the beginning when they came in, they taught us how to set up a cooperative and we came back and informed our community elders and we the women set up the cooperative and decided on a date that we will be meeting and we set up every Sunday. Every Sunday, we meet, deliberate, and teach. There are some books they gave to us and we use these books to teach ourselves; Women that do not know how to read and write, learned something during this period as a result of these organizations” As a result of this, we started taxing ourselves every week and ActionAid and Hope for the Lonely complemented our effort by empowering three women. Some livestock and others, groundnut for vegetable oil making. later, three more people were empowered and we continued growing and investing. They kept inviting us for a series of training in which I cannot count the number of trainings and they continued empowering us” Madam Victoria said.

To help themselves, “we were rotating the proceeds of the empowerment among ourselves every three months and were contributing money for our organization. We used the proceeds from this to buy a cow for the organization”

Also, as part of its intervention projects in Panguru, ActionAid built a healthcare facility. This facility, is only one available in the community. Without it the past, they had traveled the unpleasant terrain to get help when the need arose.

“Hope for the Lonely and ActionAid built a hospital for us in which in the past, we usually carry the sick on our heads to the neighboring towns of Billiri or Kashare even in the rains. But now that we have a hospital, things have improved; There was a time that we took a sick person on the head to go to the hospital and before we even got to the next community, the person died and we started coming back with a dead body. This was in the rain and on the muddy road that sticks up to your elbow, that time, Ponguru was almost like a forest She said. “In the past, sick persons were carried on the head but now, there is an improvement as a result of the hospital” Madam Victoria retells a painful experience.

Madam Victoria also shared how she was empowered with a cow and how it has impacted her, her family, and her household. “I was empowered with a cow. The cow is helping us. During the farming season, we use the cow to make ridges; we cannot take money to pay for a cow to do that for us because we have ours that we can use. When it is time to sell the cow, we can sell it and use the profit to buy a small one and keep it; all of which is part of the benefit; In the area of my family, when it is time to pay my children’s school fees and I don’t have money, we can use the cow to work on the farm to raise money to pay school fees, buy food and even buy some household items”

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Handing-over of Vocational tools to Women and Youth in Wesere

On 12^th June 2023, deliberate attention shifted to taking 12 persons out of poverty in Wesere where vocational equipment to start up economic engagement handed-over to beneficiaries. ActionAid Nigeria through community sponsorship programme fully funded the program and facilitated by partner organization HUFFPED.

The handing-over ceremony had in attendance the Chairman of the local council represented by the Secretary to the LG, counsellor, community heads, project team (AAN/HUFFPED), and the community residents.

The programme officer, Keinde Adebowale stated that the purpose for which the beneficiaries equipped beyond mere support provision. It was a deliberate effort to take residents out of poverty. List of items handed-over were:

1 power generator set, 1 hand dryer machine and wash basin handed-over to *2 hairdressers each
1 cutting machine and filling machine handed-over to *2 tillers each
Milling machine and drilling machine handed-over to *1 aluminium worker
Instant photo printing machine handed-over to *1 computer operator
A bag filled with painting tool and over-all wear handed-over to *1 painter
Full set of 4 sewing machine handed-over to *4 tailors
Full set of 1 sewing machine handed-over to *1 shoe cobbler

The SLG to the chairman highlighted some of the LRP key interventions with commendations, reassured implementing partners of the LG’s commitment to attend to community needs. Congratulation to you beneficiaries, saying with prove that AAN has done greatly than the government. We can not afford to let the project down considering the good deeds; we are only hoping that this is extended to other vulnerable communities in Badagry west. Unarguably, LRP is real and the government has not reason to doubt the project.

Mr. Adebowale (PO) is an asset, his carries AAN image. He would not let even the Chairman rest, no one could sleep with the eye closed, reminding us to represent our people well. Sincerely, community demands are still on the chairman’s table. I, however charged the beneficiaries to put a good use to the tools received because even the government since I was born has never done as much AAN has been doing to Wesere and Aivoji. The government will always remain grateful for your real act of kindness’’ Hon. Joseph Godonu said.

Bernard Ibelih (AAN communications sponsorship advisor) lightened up the component of the community sponsorship initiative with emphasis on sensitizing individual to inculcate giving as a real act of humanity all of us must practice

Adenigba Henry (ED programmes, HUFFPED) admonished beneficiaries to ensure they remain committed to the daily struggles, ensure they are able to turn the tools received to many. He praised all the contributors, and hoped for a better society with zero poverty. Yes, it is doable and remain committed to see wesere community free of poverty

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HEALTHCARE IS NOW JUST A STONES THROW AWAY

Kupto, a community in Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe state, had no functional healthcare centre and clean water. To cater to their healthcare needs, they travel long distances to Bajoga or Tongo (the LGA centre). The people of Kupto were also left to their fate to get water from streams and wells prone to diseases before the LRP by ActionAid through Hope for the Lonely and JONAPWD. However, for quite a while now, their stories have changed for the better.

Rabi Umar, a 30-years old farmer, petty trader, and mother of five, is overjoyed about the fact that not only does she have access to clean, qualitative, and equipped healthcare at her fingertip. She is ecstatic about the fact that the facility has an abundance of water to clean after herself, contrary to her unforgettable prior experience. “For the benefit, I have to start with myself, since I have benefited. First, I came to this community when there was only the old hospital before building the new one; I gave birth to my second child here. I will not forget; when we went, they asked us to come with water because there is no water in the hospital since giving birth, it is important to wash your body before coming back home. I see the difference between this one and the old hospital. Even from the antenatal”

“There is nothing that gladdens my heart such as the lab; For a common blood test, they will tell you to go to Bajoga; some days, you don’t even have the transport fare but now, we thank God. They will run tests on you, to know what is wrong with you and there is a doctor. Even all these things are things to be proud of in addition to a clean environment unlike previously. Sometimes when you enter the delivery room, you will feel like throwing up but now, you can even eat on your hospital bed” she said.

Kupto was not only plaque by a lack of accessible healthcare but also a deficit of clean water. Without the luxury of choice, they travel long miles to the stream as they compete with their livestock for water for drinking, cooking, and other uses. This also, unfortunately, means that they will be very much exposed to waterborne diseases. Today, this is no more the story.

Rabi added: “Honestly, in the past, we have the challenge of water. Our husbands have to go to the stream to get us water that we can drink and use. In the beginning, when I came to this town, it was difficult for me but later, I had to close my eyes to drink the water; Today, we have boreholes; we are not the only ones benefitting from it; if you are travelling through this town, and you drink from it, you have also benefitted from the water. We that are in town, are benefitting from the water talk more of visitors passing by. Water is the most important of them all”

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HEALTHCARE IS NOW JUST A STONES THROW

Kupto, a community in Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe state, had no functional healthcare centre and clean water. To cater to their healthcare needs, they travel long distances to Bajoga or Tongo (the LGA centre). The people of Kupto were also left to their fate to get water from streams and wells prone to diseases before the LRP by ActionAid through Hope for the Lonely and JONAPWD. However, for quite a while now, their stories have changed for the better.

Rabi Umar, a 30-years old farmer, petty trader, and mother of five, is overjoyed about the fact that not only does she have access to clean, qualitative, and equipped healthcare at her fingertip. She is ecstatic about the fact that the facility has an abundance of water to clean after herself, contrary to her unforgettable prior experience. “For the benefit, I have to start with myself, since I have benefited. First, I came to this community when there was only the old hospital before building the new one; I gave birth to my second child here. I will not forget; when we went, they asked us to come with water because there is no water in the hospital since giving birth, it is important to wash your body before coming back home. I see the difference between this one and the old hospital. Even from the antenatal”

“There is nothing that gladdens my heart such as the lab; For a common blood test, they will tell you to go to Bajoga; some days, you don’t even have the transport fare but now, we thank God. They will run tests on you, to know what is wrong with you and there is a doctor. Even all these things are things to be proud of in addition to a clean environment unlike previously. Sometimes when you enter the delivery room, you will feel like throwing up but now, you can even eat on your hospital bed” she said.

Kupto was not only plaque by a lack of accessible healthcare but also a deficit of clean water. Without the luxury of choice, they travel long miles to the stream as they compete with their livestock for water for drinking, cooking, and other uses. This also, unfortunately, means that they will be very much exposed to waterborne diseases. Today, this is no more the story.

Rabi added: “Honestly, in the past, we have the challenge of water. Our husbands have to go to the stream to get us water that we can drink and use. In the beginning, when I came to this town, it was difficult for me but later, I had to close my eyes to drink the water; Today, we have boreholes; we are not the only ones benefitting from it; if you are travelling through this town, and you drink from it, you have also benefitted from the water. We that are in town, are benefitting from the water talk more of visitors passing by. Water is the most important of them all”

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ActionAid Built Our Only School

Hakimawa is an agrarian community. It is a community in slow transition to modern times. Like many communities, the houses are muddy, the children run around the heap of sandy surrounding with no clothes on. In Hakimawa, the people live, just to survive the next day.

Sprawling in population but stunted in progress, Hakimawa grew from 47 household in the early 1990s to 199 households at the moment. The headcount of adults above 18 are 510; the children are more in number: “children could be more because an average household have about 11 children” Hakimi Salihu Hakimawa, the Village head struggled to recount.

This community is lacking in every basic infrastructure, it has no health facility; the women give birth at home and the sick are treated with local herbs. It had no school until ActionAid built the only primary school in the community.

“When they (ActionAid and ASURPI team) visited us, we thought they were from the government, we were so happy because government people don’t come to our community, we see them just once or twice every four years. They (ActionAid and ASURPI team) asked us what our priority need is, we told them we need everything because there was nothing- no water, no electricity, no school, and no health centre but after discussing with my people, we decided to ask for education, we told them to build a school so that our children can get education. If we get education, we can get every other thing” the Village head said.

In 2010 ActionAid built the first school in the community. The excitement of having its first educational facility was ecstatic; the Village head instructed each household to send their children to school. The following day of the school opening; 107 pupils turned out. The pupils outnumbered the size of the school and the volunteer teachers at the time but they were glad they had a school to attend.

“When we saw that the population of the school is growing so much and there were not enough teachers who were qualified, we went to the government, we visited the Education Secretary, he promised to send teachers to the school and he did what he promised, he sent 8 teachers. We are only waiting for the government to add more schools to what ActionAid has already done” said the Village head.

Helping Gunguntagwaye access quality health care

Sajida Bashiru, 4 lay weak on the floor; her mother Amina, rested the child on the floor just to adjust her dropping wrapper. Sajida was rushed to the health centre on a motorbike; “she has malaria” Amina whispered to the waiting arms of the nurse on duty, they both hurried into an open office. In less than 15minutes Sajida walked out of the room with Amina wearing a wide smile.

“People can die of simple malaria if they don’t have a clinic to attend” said Karima Aliyu. Karima is the women leader of Gungun Tagwaye Community.

“Women have really suffered during pregnancy because of the lack of good health centre in the community, the former place we used as health centre was very small and people are not always going there because you cannot get medicine and sometimes nobody to attend to you” Karima recall how the community lost a pregnant mother and child from stress of travelling to a neighbouring community: “I remember we lost a woman and her unborn child because they have to travel on bad road to the nearby hospital to deliver her baby, the baby and the mother died” she sadly recounts.

The government replaced the old rusty mud health centre built by the community to a better structure but abandoned it after commissioning. The structure was unused because of lack of personnel and medication. In 2013 after request from the community, ActionAid renovated the structure, equipped the facility and also empowered community members with advocacy skills to get government attention.

“After ActionAid did the renovation of the Clinic, they also bought beds and provided medicine, then they enlightened us that we can use advocacy to bring government into our community, we decided to write and visit the General Hospital, we requested for more nurses especially female nurses which they gave us five female nurses” the women leader said through an interpreter.

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ActionAid provides Rice Milling Factory for Gida Agoda Community

Women in Gidan Agoda community had their role clearly spelt – Take care of the needs of their spouses, fetch firewood, make the meal, and give birth to more children. The husbands, mostly peasant farmers and petty traders were the sole providers for the household. This has continued as a tradition, leaving women as absolute dependent. The consequences are obvious; women become victims of domestic violence, social disconnection, and economic exclusion.

Wasila Hamisu, 29 recall times when women in the community rarely contribute to the economy or the leadership of the community: “Before ActionAid and ASURPI came into our community, women were left behind, we were not trading, we were not doing any business, the men beat their wives, women were not regarded much, some people think women are not suppose to have education, we were just good as house wives” Wasila recalled.

Today in Gidan Agoda, women are participants and contributors to the economy of their households and the community. “When ActionAid and ASURPI came to our community, they asked us (the women group) what we want, we told them we want to be empowered with skills so that we can farm rice” Wasila affirmed the wish was granted: “we were given milling machine”.

The women were formed into a registered cooperative and linked to the Small Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). The 50 women members of the group were trained on improving their agricultural yield and sustaining their business, they were then supported with the sum of 3 Million Naira as interest free loan of 24months for which only 70 percent was required to be paid.

The cooperative is making profits and increasing their outputs. It has increased rice production by about 60 percent, making about 30 percent in profit.

The increased economic activities of the women restored their self confidence and improved their relationships with their spouses. “Before I couldn’t look at people’s face when talking to them, I can’t interact well but now I can talk freely in public and express my mind. I never believed that in my entire life I will ever be able to travel by air and sleep in good hotel but I enjoyed all these because of ActionAid” Wasila said in an emotionally laden voice.

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Helping Gunguntagwaye access quality health care

Sajida Bashiru, 4 lay weak on the floor; her mother Amina, rested the child on the floor just to adjust her dropping wrapper. Sajida was rushed to the health centre on a motorbike; “she has malaria” Amina whispered to the waiting arms of the nurse on duty, they both hurried into an open office. In less than 15minutes Sajida walked out of the room with Amina wearing a wide smile.

“People can die of simple malaria if they don’t have a clinic to attend” said Karima Aliyu. Karima is the women leader of Gungun Tagwaye Community.

“Women have really suffered during pregnancy because of the lack of good health centre in the community, the former place we used as health centre was very small and people are not always going there because you cannot get medicine and sometimes nobody to attend to you” Karima recall how the community lost a pregnant mother and child from stress of travelling to a neighbouring community: “I remember we lost a woman and her unborn child because they have to travel on bad road to the nearby hospital to deliver her baby, the baby and the mother died” she sadly recounts.

The government replaced the old rusty mud health centre built by the community to a better structure but abandoned it after commissioning. The structure was unused because of lack of personnel and medication. In 2013 after request from the community, ActionAid renovated the structure, equipped the facility and also empowered community members with advocacy skills to get government attention.

“After ActionAid did the renovation of the Clinic, they also bought beds and provided medicine, then they enlightened us that we can use advocacy to bring government into our community, we decided to write and visit the General Hospital, we requested for more nurses especially female nurses which they gave us five female nurses” the women leader said through an interpreter.

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“Even now I don’t want to marry him until I finish university and if he doesn’t want to wait, he should marry someone else,”

Nafia Garba, 18, is in her final year at Government Day Secondary School, Warrah, but she would not be if not for the intervention of ActionAid’s youth Activist – the Activistas. In her community girls were usually married off once they completed primary or junior secondary school, but Nafisa’s parents wanted her to finish her schooling first. However, her father’s elder brother disagreed and arranged for her to wed a young man in a nearby village. Nafisa was forced to drop out of school for a year selling pastries and wrappers while the arrangements were being made. When the news reached her fellow Activistas, they worked to intervene, but it wasn’t easy.

“In this community, when a girl is getting married it is not her biological father that gives her hand, it is his elder brother,” Nafisa explained. “So they had to convince him because it didn’t want it to be that my father had given his daughter in marriage and now didn’t want him to give me out.”

The group rallied members of Nafisa’s family – including her parents, her father’s younger brother and her mother’s older sister – as well as the village elders to plead her case. Eventually, her uncle relented and allowed her to stay in school. Though she is still pledged to be married, Nafia feels confident that her education will not be disrupted again.

“Even now I don’t want to marry him until I finish university and if he doesn’t want to wait, he should marry someone else,” she said.

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“Because I didn’t go to school, I feel I can’t speak out boldly, but my daughters are more experienced and more intelligent,”

40-year-old farmer from Obegu-Odada community in Ebonyi state, Nnenna Nwakriko, is the third wife of a local farmer. Nnenna’s husband had left the responsibility for the education of her daughters solely to her. However, she was unable to cope with the burden. After her eldest daughter finished primary school Nnenna sent her to Abakiliki to live with relatives and learn a trade while her other two daughters dropped out for two years.

“During the training by ActionAid’s education team I was told to bring her back and send her to school,” said Nnenna, speaking through a translator. “They said that if a girl child is educated they can become nurses, or even work in government.”

Nnenna sold all her assets – her chickens, goats and farm proceeds – and began growing cassava in her backyard. Through the financial management skills she learned from her group leader, she has since been able to send her three girls to school and keep them there. She has even been able to build her own house for herself and her children within the family compound.

“Because I didn’t go to school, I feel I can’t speak out boldly, but my daughters are more experienced and more intelligent,” she said proudly. “I have always known that they will be better than me.”