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The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), a leading philanthropic organisation committed to delivering sustainable impact in health, education, and social development across the continent of Africa, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has completed the renovation of ten Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) centres in identified Primary Health care centres across seven states in Nigeria. ASR Africa renovated these centres under its HIV/TB Intervention Support programme.
With a donation of USD 500,000 drawn from the ASR Africa’s Fund for Social Development and Renewal, the partnership objectives include curbing tuberculosis (TB) and HIV in Nigeria and addressing Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) through supporting survivors with the provision of dignity kits in USAID-supported Sexual Assault Response Centres (SARCs).
At the handover ceremony in Akinyele Primary Health Centre, Alimosho, Lagos Nigeria, the MD/CEO of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, speaking on behalf of the Chairman of ASR Africa Abdul Samad Rabiu, applauded the USAID team for its intervention and their partnership with the Government of Nigeria in the eradication of tuberculosis in the country. He commended the governments of Kano, Rivers, Katsina, Bauchi, Anambra, Oyo, and Lagos States, and the respective agencies that worked to deliver on the project’s success.
He noted that with the installation of the TB machines, over 22,108 samples have already been taken in all the centers combined, out of which confirmed positive cases are receiving expert medical treatment. Dr Udoh reiterated the commitment of the Chairman of ASR Africa in investing resources towards tackling pressing developmental issues in health, education, and social development in Africa.
On her part, Anne Patterson, the Mission Director, USAID Nigeria, represented by Omosalewa Oyelaran, Deputy Director, HIV/TB Office, USAID Nigeria, thanked Abdul Samad Rabiu, Executive Chairman of BUA Group and Founder of ASR Africa for collaborating with USAID and invigorating the fight against tuberculosis and HIV in the country, adding that the partnership with ASR Africa Initiative has provided critical support to reducing the burden of the disease and ensure a better quality of life for those affected.
The Mosan Okunola LCDA Chairperson, Hon. (Princess) Olabisi Adebayo said: “I would like to appreciate ASR Africa for bringing this health facility close to us to enable our people to access quick diagnosis and treatment. We will take ownership of this facility and embark on advocacy exercise within the LCDA to ensure proper education about the danger of tuberculosis and the available treatment courtesy of ASR Africa”.
It will be recalled that the USD 500,000 donation by ASR Africa was utilized for the provision of 11 loop-mediated isothermal amplification diagnostic machines, also known as TB-LAMPs, laboratory reagents and consumables, as well as 1,200 dignity kits for survivors of gender-based violence across selected states in Nigeria. Part of the donation was also used for the renovation of ten Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) centers in seven states in Nigeria.
ASR Africa is the brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist, and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu. The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Africa’s Health, Education, and Social Development.
