COFI Respects, Supports, and Appreciates Nurses

International Nurses Day (IND) is an international day observed around the world every year on 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale‘s birth, to mark the contributions that nurses make to society. This year the theme was: Nurses: Respect, support, and appreciate them.

These last few years have taken a tremendous toll on healthcare professionals all around the world. The COVID-19 global pandemic highlighted the importance of ensuring a sufficient number of the health workforce in building resilient health systems.

The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI), was founded by Chris Oyakhilome to benefit the most vulnerable people and communities in some of the poorest countries and regions of the world, is proud to sponsor the outstanding Volunteer Medical Corps in providing essential health services and relief materials to those in the greatest need. Through the partnership of these organizations, more people in dire need will be able to receive the medical aid they desperately deserve.

Individual volunteers and organizations like the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International sacrifice their time, effort, and resources to help improve the quality of life of many of the Volunteer Medical Corps program beneficiaries around the world.

Trauma Care International Foundation is another non-governmental organization that falls under the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International umbrella, and whose mission is to improve the delivery of trauma care and emergency response services through advocacy and community-based initiatives that improve health education.

The foundation aspires to improve the health and life expectancy of individuals, local communities, and nations by promoting improved trauma care, supporting national policies on trauma care, and increasing awareness of proper emergency response strategies.

Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

In a speech recently addressing the public, WHO’s Regional Director Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandahri said: “As we progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, including those related to education, gender, and economic growth, within the rapidly changing global health context, it is timely and imperative to invest in the nursing workforce.” He reiterated that: “We must respect nurses’ rights and well-being to secure global health. Our nurses face many challenges, including working under extremely difficult conditions with security concerns, as many countries in our Region are experiencing protracted crises. We must think innovatively and propose concrete actions to address these challenges.”

On International Nurses Day, while acknowledging the work of nurses in our Region and beyond, WHO and partners call on all world leaders to invest in nurses in advancing Universal Health Coverage and Health Security. Nurses deserve our solidarity, support, and recognition.

The initiatives of the Volunteer Medical Corps and its partner organizations are dedicated to providing these communities with adequate healthcare services and manpower development to aid local health workers.

In addition to providing relief aid and assistance, the Volunteer Medical Corps has sponsored community health initiatives including voluntary blood drives, free eye screenings, ministered words of hope and faith to cancer patients, and provided medications and supplements to under-served communities.

Through its advocacy work and awareness campaigns, Trauma Care International Foundation hopes to influence the development of comprehensive national policies regarding trauma and trauma response. The foundation supports and promotes government programs and planning on regional trauma network systems in Nigeria and the establishment of a trauma audit network system at a national state, and local government levels.

The ultimate goal of the Trauma Care International Foundation is to reduce the number of potential life years lost due to injuries and disability. To achieve its vision, the foundation provides free medical services to impoverished, less fortunate individuals and communities. Trauma Care International Foundation also seeks to increase the number of medical and paramedical professionals skilled in providing quality medical care in response to trauma cases.