In commemoration of the 2025 Children’s Day celebration, the Healthy and Smart Children Foundation (HSCF), Tuesday, extended its medical and educational outreach to Ameta community in Ozizza, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, to celebrate with primary school pupils and secondary school students living in the community.
The outreach, with the theme, “Every Child Counts: Celebrating Health, Knowledge and Hope”, was championed by HSCF Project Manager, Mr Fredrick Oko-Otu, who led a team of volunteer medical doctors, nurses, teachers and public spirited individuals to the rural community to impact on thd lives of the children.
Speaking at the event, Pastor Maurice Ekuma, who represented the Founder/Director of the Foundation, Dr Christian Inya Oko, said the program was designed not only to celebrate children but also to address the critical challenges of healthcare and access to quality education within rural communities.
“This outreach was celebrated with great enthusiasm by the children and the entire community. Objectives of the outreach were to promote healthcare awareness and access among children and to empower school-aged children with educational tools and opportunities,” he said.
Engr Nnanna Idam, the Educational Coordinator added that: “We also want to encourage the spirit of talent, intellectual growth and innovation through competitions and raise community consciousness around the importance of education and health, especially for out-of-school children.
“The outreach featured a blend of educational, health and recreational activities, including march past, a colorful display of unity, discipline, and patriotism as students from different schools matched in celebration of their day.
“There was also a reusable pad making workshop led by Dieudonne Idam Eze, who conducted a practical and educational session on menstrual hygiene aimed at empowering girls with sustainable hygiene practices and breaking menstrual stigma. Five out-of-school children were identified and awarded full scholarships covering their education up to graduation.
“There was also quiz and debate competitions, a lively intellectual exchange aimed at enhancing critical thinking and public speaking skills. Prizes were given to outstanding students, including school bags, notebooks, and educational materials.
“There was also a comprehensive health outreach, where 135 children were given free medical consultations and medication. Some medical cases identified were malaria, diarrhoea, pneumonia and dental issues. They were also dewormed against schistosomiasis.
“Total Beneficiaries were 200 children, comprising nursery, primary, secondary, and out-of-school children. For the community members, we had the parents also on ground to celebrate with their children. All children as received education, materials like books, pens, pencils, and there were rewards for academic excellence.”
Mrs Beatrice Oko, one of the volunteers who is a teacher in the area, stated that the program marked a turning point in the community’s approach to child development.
“It is going to improve greatly their approach to school work and make them know there is always a prize for excellence. The out-of-school children, which included orphans, would also have opportunities to go back to school and birth their dreams,” she said.
The Director, Dr Christian Oko, stated that a follow-up medical care would be arranged for children with health conditions requiring further examination. Also, a mentorship and follow-up system would be implemented for awards and scholarship recipients.
“This outreach directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being – through free medical screenings and early detection of illnesses and SDG 4: Quality Education– by providing scholarships, educational competitions, and learning materials.
“It was recommended that future outreaches should include parental engagement sessions to encourage home support for children’s education and health.
“The 2025 Children’s Day Outreach at Ameta, Ozizza was a landmark initiative that positively impacted about 200 children and reshaped community engagement around child welfare,” he said.
Key members of the Ameta, Ozizza community expressed heartfelt gratitude and enthusiasm over the outreach facilitated by the Healthy and Smart Children Foundation.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Umennachi Justus, a teacher at the primary school, stated that it was a timely and transformational event for the pupils.
On his part, Onikara Chief Boniface Isu Inya, a respected community leader, called it “a new dawn for child development in Ozizza.”
Similarly, Mr. Oko Boniface Eze, the Youth President, described the event as “historic and inspirational,” noting that such an initiative had never been witnessed in their community before.
With effective leadership from Fredrick Oko-Otu and support from dedicated volunteers, the Healthy and Smart Children Foundation has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the well-being of children in underserved communities in Nigeria.
