Reflection Meeting on Mental Health with OPEN MINDS’ Project Participants in FCT

On the 9th and 10th of May 2023, Gede Foundation conducted activities in Kwali with health care workers and community members respectively.

The activities are a series of planned consultations that helped to evaluate the outcome of the psychosocial interventions that are being implemented within the Open Minds’ Project, for people affected by leprosy in Kebbi, Sokoto states and the FCT.

Community members and Healthcare Workers met in separate settings to reflect on their roles and responsibilities in the project that started in 2019.

Healthcare workers discussed i) mental health knowledge and service delivery, ii) mental health assessment tools, and, iii) safeguarding. The engagement helped to ensure that healthcare workers stay up to date with their knowledge as well as execution of their duties regarding mental health.  

Community members (comprising of Community Heads, Parents, Carers, Children and Youths) had sessions that reflected on mental health stigma, barriers and challenges in accessing mental health services at the health facilities. In both settings, there are improvements in knowledge about mental health, access to mental health services and reduction in mental health stigma and discrimination among people affected by leprosy.

Discussion were led by mental health and safeguarding experts including a mental health champion with lived experience of mental health problems. Community members expressed that they’ve been putting healthy coping mechanisms into their everyday lives—some of which are through sports, music, peer group discussions and other forms of extra-curricular activities.

This Project is funded by Comic Relief UK, and implemented in 2 states and the FCT by  Gede Foundation, The Leprosy Mission England and Wales and The Leprosy Mission Nigeria.

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Gede increased access to educational opportunities to orphans and vulnerable children in Cross River State

Gede Foundation has continued to bridge the out-of-school and sanitation gaps by providing access to scholarship and community development in the southern part of Nigeria.

The project provides i) scholarship support to vulnerable households, and, ii) ventilated improved latrines in community schools. It creates opportunities for children to access education as well as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities across 10 selected communities in Cross River state. It is expected that WASH activities will help to reduce incidence of water-borne diseases among students in rural schools and improve school attendance. 

 Recently, the project distributed books and other scholastic items to 100 students in secondary schools, engaged and supported 30 NYSC members to teach in community schools and advocate for ‘back-to-school’ project. Furthermore, the project organized extra curricula activities and skills building training to students and youths to improve their employability skills 

In partnership with relevant community and state-based agencies, the programme is sustaining its community development objectives, with an overall goal of empowering households with knowledge and skills to be self-sustaining.

The project is funded by Lafarge Plc. Please follow our social media to learn more about our activities!