Catholic NGO assists 6m crisis victims, 10m others with healthcare support
By Philomina Attah
Caritas Nigeria, a Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria-owned Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, says it has provided food, shelter, education, protection, and healthcare services assistance to over six million crisis victims in Nigeria over the course of 15 years.
The organisation’s Executive Secretary, Rev. Fr. Peter Babangida, disclosed this during a walkathon and medical outreach held at Durumi Community in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the anniversary is: “Sustainability in the Face of the Changing Funding Landscape.”
Babangida, while emphasising the organisation’s commitment to serving the poor and vulnerable, encouraged Nigerians to partner with its initiatives.
He cited the organisation’s extensive network and ability to reach out to people in need, and appealed for support from Nigerians as it marks its 15th anniversary.
Reflecting on the journey so far, he said: “We have assisted about six million crisis victims and trained over 50,000 farmers and fishers in climate-smart practices, enhancing their resilience to climate change.
“On healthcare, we have reached over 10 million people with HIV testing services, achieving a treatment success rate of 98 per cent, and placed over 180,000 people living with HIV on life-saving antiretroviral therapy.
“With help from our partners, we have treated over 60,000 beneficiaries with TB, contributing to the global effort to combat the disease”.
According to him, over 50,000 healthcare workers and religious leaders were also trained to provide quality care and support to their communities.
“Our aim is to improve the well-being of all people through our development programmes, but it serves beneficiaries regardless of their religious affiliations,” he said.
Babangida acknowledged the challenges posed by dwindling funding but expressed confidence in the NGO’s network and ability to adapt.
He expressed the organisation’s reliance on divine providence, prayer, and local resources, including support from the Catholic Church and philanthropists.
“With the dwindling nature of funding, some agencies have folded but we know that the Church, the Catholic Church, has a network.
“We are trying to strategise ourselves, get local resources, approach philanthropists. We just came back from the Bishops Conference. Some dioceses have already made some donations to support us,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to supporters and partners and emphasised the importance of continued collaboration and support to sustain, as the organisation continues to serve millions of people across Nigeria.
Babangida emphasised that the celebration was inspired by gratitude to God and the Catholic Church’s mission to serve humanity.
He highlighted the importance of people-oriented approaches, citing the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25, which emphasises serving the least of God’s brethren.
Mr Williams Mayah, the group’s Senior Programme Officer, Global Fund TB/HIV Project, said the organisation’s mission was to meet the needs of people and support them in every way possible.
Mayah explained that the walkathon and medical outreach were designed to create awareness about Caritas Nigeria’s work, engage the community, and provide medical services to those in need.
“The outreach is specifically targeted at the Durumi Community and the public at large,” he said.
Mayah therefore appealed to potential donors and funders to support Caritas Nigeria’s work.
He highlighted the organisation’s track record of implementing projects well and its potential to empower communities, women, and children, and provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by crises.
NAN reports that the faith-based NGO, which was established in 2010, coordinates the Church’s humanitarian and development work across the country in line with Catholic Social Teaching.
The anniversary presents an opportunity for the NGO to highlight its 15-year journey of touching millions of lives across Nigeria through humanitarian and development interventions.
It also serves as an occasion to draw attention to the challenges and opportunities that it faces in sustaining its mission. (NAN)
