Makoko Community Project (AEGIS 1.0)

AEGIS: Accessible And Essential Growth In Infant And Child Health Services

A Community Clean-up and Medical Outreach Program For Children in Makoko Community

ABOUT MAKOKO COMMUNITY

Makoko Community is a small rural area in the Yaba Local Government Area of Lagos with a very low standard of living. It is a slum situated across the third mainland bridge on the coast of Lagos mainland. One-third of the entire community is built on stilt along the lagoon while the rest of it is on land. Makoko community houses so many children who lack some basic medical, educational and welfare needs.

THE PROBLEM

There is about 756,000 (under-five) child's death annually recorded by the Federal Government of Nigeria. 58% of under-five children die of "Pneumonia, Diarrhoea and Malaria" while 50% of them die of "Malnutrition". Majority of these childhood deaths can be prevented with high impact interventions and treated with very low-cost medicines which most of these children living in hard to reach areas do not have access to (Osarenoma Uwaifo, 2018).

Most children in Nigeria are not well nourished with the right intake for Good Health which affects them in their education and daily lives. Majority of these children feeds on leftovers while most of them starves themselves which can develop to serious health challenges. The challenges of childhood death is finance and access to healthcare.

THE SOLUTION: Hence, there is a need for us to tackle this health challenges in our communities as such "AEGIS" was adopted; the Power to Protect, Control, or Support. A program setup to attend to children's medical and welfare needs especially in the rural areas.

 

Children who are well nourished with good intake are likely to live longer and also increase their performance in their education. Access to healthcare (eg, outreaches) will reduce child mortality in our communities and increase their level of awareness to some health factors. These will provide Good Health & Wellbeing which is one of our goals as an organization.

THE APPROACH

On the 15th of June, 2019, our organization conducted a Community Clean-up and Medical Outreach Program tagged "AEGIS 1.0" in conjunction with Yaba Local Council Development Area. We did the Community Clean-up with the help of LAWMA who helped us with a compactor to dispose the wastes packed out from the community. Thereafter, the medical outreach commenced which was led by our medical team. We conducted their vital signs, check-up and gave the children free medications especially those that were malnourished.

• Over 500 children were been attended to.
• Many malnourished children were given proper medications to boost their immunity.
• Referrals were made for some special cases that were discovered.
• Neatly used clothes and shoes were given to the children.

OUR GOAL

• To provide access to healthcare to 10,000 children within a year.
• To provide WASTE BINS to rural communities for proper waste disposal.
• Partnerships with other organizations and brands to support us, eg; NGOs, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, etc.