The 4Breath4Life Foundation, led by its President, Dr. Olumide Richard Oyefeso, recently convened a gathering of healthcare professionals, corporate leaders, philanthropists, and development partners in Lagos to push for stronger action against child mortality. The event marked the foundation's anniversary and featured a Heroes Award programme that recognised individuals and organisations contributing to healthcare and community development in Nigeria. The foundation's efforts aim to address the alarming rate of child deaths, with approximately 700 children dying daily.
The foundation's "Every Baby Lives" initiative seeks to prevent newborn deaths through improved knowledge, skills, and access to quality care. A video presentation at the event highlighted the human cost of child mortality, featuring the story of Juliana Adesina, who lost her son, and the foundation's early outreach efforts in 2013. The presentation underscored the realities that have shaped 4Breath4Life's interventions and its efforts to equip healthcare workers to respond effectively to emergencies involving mothers and children.
During a fireside chat, Oyefeso and board member Dr. Osamudiame Idahosa shared their experiences and the challenges encountered in the foundation's early years. Oyefeso recalled an outreach experience that exposed him to poor sanitary conditions in underserved communities, deepening his understanding of the realities confronting people with limited access to basic healthcare facilities. This experience strengthened his determination to contribute to better healthcare delivery.
The foundation's work has not been driven by government funding, with board members playing a significant role in supporting its interventions. Oyefeso encouraged more people to contribute towards efforts that save lives, emphasising that saving a life is not only about responding to emergencies but also about providing care with the right knowledge, skills, and support. The foundation has trained over 5,000 healthcare workers and plans to expand its training programme to reach 10,000 healthcare providers across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones.
The foundation's programmes include "Every Baby Lives," focused on preventing newborn deaths; "Heart 4 Nigeria," which supports heart surgeries; healthcare-provider training; and community outreaches. The anniversary event featured the Heroes Award, which recognised individuals and organisations contributing to strengthening healthcare and community development in Nigeria. Among those recognised were Dr. Obi Mobo and Rosin Rushenwe, CEO of Afia Care.
The event brought together stakeholders united by the need for stronger collaboration around maternal and child healthcare. As 4Breath4Life expands its training reach, the anniversary served as a reminder that the fight against child mortality cannot depend solely on responding to emergencies. It must also involve preparing people who provide care with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to give every child a better chance to live.
The 4Breath4Life Foundation's efforts aim to address the alarming rate of child deaths in Nigeria. With its expanded training programme and community outreaches, the foundation is working to equip healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to emergencies involving mothers and children. The foundation's work is crucial in the fight against child mortality, and its impact is expected to be significant in the years to come.
Key points
- The 4Breath4Life Foundation has trained over 5,000 healthcare workers and plans to expand its training programme to reach 10,000 healthcare providers across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones.
