Humanity First Plans New Hospital In Abuja, Clothes Banks In Lagos
. Supports 18,847 Nigerians in 2023
By Sulaimon Salau
Humanity First Nigeria (HFN), a non government organisation has unveiled it’s plans to complete a hospital in Gwagwalada area of Abuja and complete a clothes bank in Lagos this year.
Humanity First is a charitable trust established to promote and safeguard human life and dignity. It is a non-political, non-religious, non-sectarian international relief and development agency that works with the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
The group, which operates under the umbrella of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Nigeria, said plans are also underway to hold more free health services to the populace.
Chairman, Humanity First Nigeria, Dr Abeeb Yekeen, who revealed this during a press briefing to mark the 2024 Global Telethon in Nigeria, said between January and March 2024, the group had already conducted a 4-day free health services programme in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State with over 1,200 beneficiaries.
He said the HFN distributed over 1,500 clothes and other household items to over 500 vulnerable people, and also dug two boreholes in Ogun and Kano State to serve over 25,000 people across 10 communities.
According to Yekeen, Humanity First objectives are: to relieve suffering caused by natural disasters or human conflict; strengthen people’s capacity to help themselves; and promote peace and understanding based upon mutual tolerance and respect.
He said the Humanity First global telethon is a yearly activity of Humanity First globally aimed at showcasing the efforts of its organization globally via the social media with a view to generate funds and encourage donations.
This year the focus is on ‘Food security’ in line with goal two of the UN-SDG i.e. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
Apart from food security which is the focus of this year’s telethon, he said Humanity First has been able to offer assistance to over 14 million individuals globally.
In Nigeria, over 18,847 people were supported in the year 2023 through various means.
These include the distribution of seedlings to households to promote homestead farming. Train individuals and families in best practices for homestead agriculture.
It also distributed food to 3,755 vulnerable across 30 locations to help them during the present hard times.
He said: “We are also working with our development partners to also start farming community in the nearest future
“Disaster Relief: In 2023 HFN trained 80 victims of 2022 flood disaster in Port Harcourt Rivers State in 3 vocations
“Clothes Bank: HFN runs a clothes Bank with 2 centers in Nigeria Abuja and Port Harcourt we also have 8 teams distributing clothes and other household items to vulnerable people across 8 states in Nigeria working under the disaster relief and programs team. The team distributed over 19,000 clothes to over 8000 individuals.
“Global Health: In 2023 HFN conducted 3 medical outreach providing free health services to over 4000 Individuals in Nigeria. The Global health Team is also running a Clinic in Okooko a village in Oyo state and we provided subsidized healthcare to over 500 patients in 2023
“Gift of sight: Humanity first Nigeria conducts a monthly free eye care camp in Kano State. In 2023 569 cataract operations were performed in 2023 and 1643 patients were attended to for various other eye related cases.
“Knowledge for Life: HFN through support from her development partners provides free education to over 50 students in 2 schools in Igbo Oruwo and lye Osa in Oyo state Nigeria
“Orphan Care: There are presently over 23 orphans under the care of HFN. The orphans are kept with their relatives and HFN provides funds for their upkeep and daily upkeep. HFN also provides support for the family who is taking care of the orphans” he stated.
Yekeen said in 2023 HFN fund raising team raised N4,492,877 to help support HFN activities through dedicated volunteers.
A member of the group, Dr Hakeem Bello, said Humanity First exists in over 65 countries worldwide to support the less privileged.
He said the projects are not limited to Muslims, saying: “Irrespective of religion, colour and decide, we ensure that our services get across to all.”
Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria, Barr Folorunsho Alatoye said: “We will not force anybody to our faith based on humanitarian grounds. We will continue humanitarian services without bias.”
He urged the government to put a human face to demolition of buildings, urging them to construct an affordable accomodation for the residents before rendering them homeless.
“We should have human face for the implementation of the law, and the law for the survival of the poor must be the priority of government,” he stated
The group officially promised to support one Mr Akinleye Olushola, a Christian whose building was blown off by a rainstorm in Ogun State, with a cheque of N1 million to rebuild the house.
