Amina Abba, a married 25-year-old mother of one (1) from Bama LGA, recounts her beautiful experience with Albarka Health Spring Foundation (AHSF) in her community. During Amina’s period of pregnancy before she had an encounter with AHSF, she suffered severe stomach aches with little or no information about what was wrong with her or who could attend to her health needs.
“I had doubts about a successful delivery because of the way I was feeling during those periods. I wasn’t encouraged to visit the hospital because I am very shy of sharing my problems with people, and also, I didn’t have the financial power.” Amina recounts.
In July 2023, AHS,F, with salient support from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund NHF, began a six-month health intervention with the specific aim to provide basic life-saving quality health care services to affected IDPs, returnees, people in extremely hard-to-reach areas and host populations in Bama and Gwoza LGAs of Borno state, Nigeria. Skilled health personnel and community volunteers were trained and deployed into vulnerable communities in Bama to help cushion the impacts of the insurgency on the health system in these vulnerable communities and the people living in it.
Amina’s transformation began when community volunteers undertook a relentless campaign to educate the locals on the significance of seeking healthcare, no matter how minor the issue might seem. This tireless effort provided Amina with the courage to approach one of these community volunteers, reveal her predicament, and ask for help. She was promptly guided to Skin Clinic, a health facility that AHSF supports, where she was registered for antenatal care (ANC) and had her first counselling and consultation session. Amina received a mosquito net and was warmly encouraged to return for regular check-ups. This pivotal moment bolstered her confidence and determination to continue visiting the facility, ultimately leading to the safe and successful delivery of her child.
“I am so grateful to Albarka for the counselling, check-ups, drugs, mosquito net, delivery kit, and most of all, the successful delivery of my child. I thought it would be a challenging period but it was easy with this critical support. Thank you, Albarka. Big thank you to NHF.” Amina expressed her gratitude for the vital support she has received.
From July to September 2023, AHSF reached out to 6,983 of the 11,000 vulnerable individuals in the area. These numbers include 36% women, 23% girls, 21% men, and 20% boys. Vital healthcare services were extended to them, creating a transformative impact in their lives. Moreover, 1,048 pregnant women received essential information through sensitization and risk communication, addressing critical topics like cholera, malaria, good hygiene practices, and gender-based violence. They were further referred to healthcare facilities for antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) services, all made possible through the efforts of eight supported healthcare facilities in both LGAs.
Amina’s journey exemplifies the life-changing efforts of Albarka Health Spring Foundation and the unwavering support from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund. Their dedication to providing vital healthcare services and emotional support has touched countless lives, leaving an indelible mark on the community’s well-being and future.
