In Nigeria, where financial constraints and limited resources often hinder underprivileged women and girls from realising their full potential, the Jennifer Etuh Foundation (JEF) has emerged as a beacon of hope. With a multifaceted approach to empowerment, education, and healthcare, the foundation envisions a society where every female can access quality education, healthcare, and skill acquisition programmes.
Since its inception in January 2021, the Jennifer Etuh Foundation has rapidly grown and made remarkable progress in its mission. As of July 2023, it has been empowering communities for two years and six months, tirelessly working to eliminate barriers that hinder the growth of women and girls across Nigeria.
One of the foundation’s most significant achievements lies in the establishment of four hospitals strategically located in different states across the country. The Jennifer Etuh Medical Center in Odu Oboyaga, Kogi State; Jennifer Etuh Specialist Hospital (JESH) in Kagoro, Kaduna State; Jennifer Etuh Medical Center (JEMC) in Ifewara, Osun State; and Jennifer Etuh Medical Center (JEMC) in Tula, Gombe State, stand as testaments to the foundation’s commitment to accessible and quality healthcare.
But the foundation’s dedication does not end with the establishment of these hospitals. Recognising the importance of sustained support and continuous improvement, the Jennifer Etuh Foundation has implemented an effective follow-up and monitoring system. Community-based field officers, carefully chosen as primary points of contact between the hospital management and the foundation, serve as the backbone of this system.
These dedicated field officers ensure a seamless flow of information by reporting activities and deliverables to the foundation’s office. Their role enables ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and learning within the foundation, creating a culture of data-driven decision-making. By analyzing relevant data, the foundation identifies areas of improvement and recognizes successful practices, making necessary adjustments to enhance the overall quality of healthcare services provided.
Moreover, the Jennifer Etuh Foundation actively participates in overseeing and supporting the management of these hospitals. By maintaining an active role, the foundation ensures that high-quality healthcare services are consistently delivered to the communities they serve. This commitment goes beyond financial support, as the foundation provides guidance, resources, and assistance to address any challenges that may arise.
Through this collaborative approach, the Jennifer Etuh Foundation has fostered a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in the healthcare sector. By leveraging ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and learning, the foundation strives to create sustainable positive impact and make a meaningful difference in the lives of the communities it serves.
In a chat with LEADERSHIP Weekend the programmes coordinator, Jennifer Etuh Foundation, Mr. Joseph Otu said as the Foundation continues to expand its reach and deepen its impact, it remains dedicated to its vision of empowering underprivileged women and girls.
With each passing day, he said the foundation brings Nigeria closer to a future where financial constraints and limited resources no longer hinder the full potential of females, adding that the Jennifer Etuh Foundation stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when determination, vision, and compassion come together to transform lives and build a brighter tomorrow.
The programmes coordinator said the Foundation was officially launched on 16th February 2021 in memory of the late Mrs. Jennifer Rematu Etuh who lived an exemplary humanitarian life.
He said she was passionate about supporting the needy, creating opportunities to uplift disadvantaged women and girls she came in contact with by giving them educational and vocational support and other access to other economic empowerment opportunities.
During her last moments, Otu said she gave explicit instructions on the vision of the Foundation, its intervention, and the siting of 6 Hospitals across the six geopolitical zones.
He said Jennifer Etuh Medical Centre, Tula, Gombe State is the fourth in a series of full-service hospitals to be built by Mr. Thomas Etuh and Jennifer Etuh Foundation in memory of his late wife, Mrs. Jennifer Ramatu Etuh, who was called to glory on 26th January 2020.
He said 10th July, 2023, marks her 49th posthumous birthday and the commissioning of the Jennifer Etuh Medical Centre, Tula Gombe State.
Since the setting up of the Jennifer Etuh Foundation, he said it has intervened in the education and empowerment of women and girls from different walks of life with support ranging from school fees, full scholarships, menstrual hygiene kits, palliative relief materials to internally displaced victims of insecurity, and vocational and educational starter packs.
He explained that the foundation envisions a society where underprivileged women and girls have access to quality education, healthcare, and skill acquisition programmes.
He said the goal is to eliminate financial constraints and limited resources and opportunities that hinder females from realizing their full potential.
Otu stated that the Jennifer Etuh Foundation has built four hospitals. They are: Jennifer Etuh Medical Center in Odu Oboyaga, Kogi State commissioned on January 26th, 2022; Jennifer Etuh Specialist Hospital (JESH) in Kagoro, Kaduna State commissioned on July 11th, 2022; Jennifer Etuh Medical Center (JEMC) in Ifewara, Osun State commissioned on April 26th, 2023 and Jennifer Etuh Medical Center (JEMC) in Tula, Gombe State which is set to be commissioned.
On the status and monitoring of previously established hospitals, Otu explained that the previously established hospitals under the Jennifer Etuh Foundation are being managed by different institutions with a credible track record of hospital management.
The hospitals and their respective managing institutions are Jennifer Etuh Specialist Hospital in Kagoro – managed by Bingham University; Jennifer Etuh Medical Center in Kogi – managed by the Catholic Diocese of Idah; Jennifer Etuh Medical Center in Ifewara Osun State- managed by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
Mr. Joseph Otu emphasised that the Foundation recognized the importance of follow-up, monitoring, and learning processes. To facilitate this, he said the foundation employs community-based field officers who act as the primary point of contact between the hospitals and the foundation.
He said these officers ensure a seamless flow of information, report activities and deliverables to the foundation’s office, and enable ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
“The foundation actively participates in overseeing and supporting the management of these hospitals, providing guidance, resources, and support to address any challenges. This collaborative approach fosters continuous improvement and innovation in the healthcare sector, allowing the foundation to make informed, data-driven decisions and create sustainable positive impact in the communities they serve,” he added.
