Abuja: The Caritas Nigeria, a leading humanitarian and development arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has expressed its commitment to serving the poor and vulnerable children. The organisation appealed to Nigerians to support its work, stressing the need for Nigerians to partner with its initiatives due to its extensive network and ability to reach out to people in need.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, Fr. Peter Babangida, made the appeal during a walkathon and medical outreach at Durumi Community, Abuja, to mark the 15 years anniversary of the organisation. Caritas Nigeria, a faith-based NGO established in 2010 to coordinate the Church’s humanitarian and development work across the country, operates in line with Catholic Social Teaching.
NAN also reports that the anniversary provides an opportunity to highlight the organisation’s 15-year journey of touching millions of lives across Nigeria through humanitarian and development intervent
ions. Babangida also drew attention to the challenges and opportunities in sustaining the organisation’s mission. The theme for the anniversary is ‘Sustainability in the Face of the Changing Funding Landscape.’
Babangida emphasised that the celebration was inspired by gratitude to God and the Catholic Church’s mission to serve humanity. He highlighted the importance of people-oriented approaches, citing the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, which emphasises serving the least of God’s brethren. Reflecting on the journey so far, he said the organisation had provided assistance to over six million people affected by crises, offering nutritious food, shelter, education, protection, and healthcare services.
‘We have trained over 50,000 farmers and fishers in climate-smart practices, enhancing their resilience to climate change. On healthcare, we have reached over 10 million people with HIV testing services, achieving a treatment success rate of 98 per cent, and placed over 180,000 people living with HIV on life-sav
ing antiretroviral therapy. With help from our partners, we have treated over 60,000 beneficiaries with TB, contributing to the global effort to combat the disease,’ he said.
According to him, over 50,000 healthcare workers and religious leaders were also trained to provide quality care and support to their communities. ‘Our aim is to improve the well-being of all people through our development programmes, but it serves beneficiaries regardless of their religious affiliations.’
Babangida acknowledged the challenges posed by dwindling funding but expressed confidence in Caritas Nigeria’s network and ability to adapt. He expressed the organisation’s reliance on divine providence, prayer, and local resources, including support from the Catholic Church and philanthropists. He expressed gratitude to supporters and partners and emphasised the importance of continued collaboration and support to sustain the initiatives.
Mr Williams Mayah, Senior Programme Officer, Caritas Nigeria’s Global Fund TB/HIV Project, sai
d that Caritas Nigeria’s mission was to meet the needs of people and support them in every way possible. Mayah explained that the walkathon and medical outreach were designed to create awareness about Caritas Nigeria’s work, engage the community, and provide medical services to those in need. ‘The outreach is specifically targeted at the Durumi Community and the public at large.’ Mayah appealed to potential donors and funders to support Caritas Nigeria’s work.