On December 14th, PurpleDew Children Care Foundation, in collaboration with Hope for HIV/AIDS International (HFA), organized an outreach titled Bridge to Care: “Empowering Kids with Disabilities and Their Families in the community of Ijora-Badia, Lagos”.

Children with special needs often face stigma, social exclusion, and insufficient support due to a lack of understanding and awareness surrounding mental and physical disabilities. This neglect arises largely from misinformation, leading to a gap in providing essential care. Recognizing the need for change, PurpleDew and HopeVision International for HIV/AIDS - a Lagos-based non-profit - joined forces after a crucial meeting on October 30th. The purpose of the meeting was to explore collaborative efforts in supporting vulnerable children in the region.

The partnership solidified with a shared vision: to organize an outreach event in Ijora-Badia and facilitate direct engagement with the community, laying the groundwork for future support initiatives.

The outreach focused on several key goals:

1. Establishing a Pilot Medical Outreach aimed at providing care for 19 identified children with special needs from a previous visit to Ijora-Badia on November 6th. This project has the potential to be replicated in other communities.
   
   

2. Promoting Community-Based Rehabilitation Services and opening discussions with healthcare providers to create a comprehensive, accessible system of care for children with special needs in the community.
   
   

3. Raising Awareness and Sensitization to reduce stigma surrounding disabilities through campaigns and education, and equipping families and caregivers with training and resources to better support the children.

All objectives were successfully met during the outreach event. Twenty (20) families in Ijora-Badia were empowered with knowledge, children with disabilities were given access to much-needed medical care, and the seeds of an ongoing support network were planted. This event marked a significant milestone in ensuring that children with disabilities in this community are included, supported, and cared for.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the following individuals and organizations:

• Yabo Hassa, Head of Apapa-Iganmu/Ijora-Badia Women’s Association, and Baba Olojonwo, CDC Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu, for welcoming us with open arms and showing unwavering support.
  
  

• PurpleDew volunteers and donors: your time, energy, and commitment made this event possible.
  
  

• Lokito Restaurant for organizing the refreshments, and NiDi Drive for managing logistics seamlessly.
  
  

• Dr. Temitope Tijani and Dr. Anthony Ezerioha for their invaluable support in delivering essential healthcare services right on time.

Together, we made a difference in the lives of children and families in Ijora-Badia, and this is just the beginning of our mission to create inclusive, caring communities.