Foundation reaches 5,000 vulnerable Nigerians with healthcare, humanitarian support

By Chioma Obinna

The Dammyla Care Foundation has reached more than 5,000 vulnerable Nigerians through free medical outreaches, health education, welfare support, educational materials and other humanitarian interventions in the last five years.
The Founder of the foundation, Ms. Damilola Dosunmu, disclosed this during a free medical outreach organised for residents of an underserved Lagos community, where more than 100 beneficiaries received medical screening, medications, counselling and food.
Dosunmu said the foundation was established to reach people who often struggle to access basic healthcare and other essential support, including people battling substance abuse, children living with limb loss and vulnerable persons in correctional facilities.
“For me, humanitarian service is not just about giving. It is about showing people that they matter, restoring hope, promoting dignity and making a meaningful difference in their lives,” she said.
According to her, the foundation has, over the past five years, expanded its interventions beyond medical care to include support for children living with limb loss.
She disclosed that five children aged between three and 10 had received free artificial limbs through the foundation, helping them regain mobility, confidence and independence.
Dosunmu, a Prosthetist and Orthotist, said her professional experience with people living with disabilities motivated her to establish the foundation.
“I realised that there was a need to do more beyond my professional responsibilities. I wanted to use my knowledge, resources and connections to positively impact lives and give people hope,” she said.
At the latest outreach, the foundation also focused on substance abuse, with Dosunmu calling for greater support and rehabilitation for people battling addiction.
“We discovered that a lot of people struggle with addiction. Most of these people are into substance abuse. We realised that these people have been stigmatized, forgotten and judged,” she said.
She said the foundation was reaching out to affected persons to educate them on the dangers of substance abuse and assist those willing to undergo rehabilitation.
A medical doctor and Senior Registrar at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Dr Shoneye Olumide Patrick, who participated in the outreach, said the exercise was aimed at providing basic healthcare while identifying conditions requiring further medical attention.
He said beneficiaries were screened for blood pressure and blood sugar levels, while those requiring specialist care were referred to appropriate health facilities.
Patrick also stressed the need for grassroots awareness on substance abuse, noting that some affected persons were unaware of its possible effects on vital organs.
Principal Nursing Officer, Nurse Funmi Adeniji, said elevated blood pressure was among the common conditions identified during the screening.
She said beneficiaries requiring continued care would be referred to appropriate facilities, with follow-up where possible.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Omolara Adisa, expressed appreciation for the intervention, saying it had provided medical care to people who could not afford regular hospital visits.
Dosunmu, however, appealed to corporate organisations, individuals and other stakeholders to support the foundation’s programmes.
“We are seeking collaboration, sponsorship and help from companies so that we can reach out to more people and be able to do more,” she said.
She said increased support would enable the foundation to expand its healthcare and humanitarian interventions to more underserved communities and vulnerable Nigerians.