WACHEF Celebrates 25 Years Of Service To Humanity
By Lynn Adda
Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation, WACHEF a Taraba State based humanitarian organization has celebrated 25 years of positively impacting lives in some rural communities in Taraba State.
For the past 25 years, the Foundation has worked tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of women and children, empower families and support communities in need.
To celebrate and assess its achievements and activities during the period under review, the founder, leading the Board of Trustee members, staff, partners, volunteers, civil society groups, beneficiaries, traditional and government officials among others, gathered on Galaxy Sport Hall in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
Welcoming guests to the event, the founder of WACHEF, Dr Garba Danjuma, recalled how he started the Foundation with his meagre resources to become what it is today.
Dr Garba Danjuma
He noted that WACHEF was founded with a simple but powerful conviction: that women and children deserve access to quality healthcare, dignity, opportunity, and a voice in shaping their future.
“From modest beginnings, WACHEF has grown into a respected non-governmental organization working in partnership with public institutions, private sector actors, and development partners.
“Our journey over the last 25 years has been one of resilience, learning, and unwavering dedication to community well-being. What started as a small initiative has evolved into a structured institution with a strong team of young professionals bringing expertise in governance, health, ICT, and human resource management.
“Our vision is clear: A society where access to quality healthcare and social services is universal and inclusive. Our mission remains to promote community well-being by advancing health practices, economic empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods, especially for women and children.
Dr Garba Danjuma stressed that the Foundation is guided by strong core values that shape its daily activities, which include partnerships, accountability, teamwork, gender equity, results orientation, and agro-climatic resilience.
According to him, over the years, WACHEF has implemented and supported numerous interventions aimed at improving health outcomes, strengthening governance, and enhancing livelihoods.
“We have worked on maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, tuberculosis and malaria control, hepatitis testing and vaccination, family planning, school feeding, disability inclusion, and community-led monitoring of health services.
“Our partnerships with organizations such as USAID, ActionAid Nigeria, Global Fund, World Hepatitis Alliance, Catholic Relief Services, MiracleFeet, Jhpiego, Palladium, and several others have enabled us to reach thousands of beneficiaries across communities.
“Through advocacy, service delivery, monitoring, and capacity building, WACHEF has contributed meaningfully to improved health-seeking behavior, accountability in service delivery, and protection of vulnerable populations, particularly women, children, and young people”.
He said beyond health, WACHEF recognizes that well-being is closely linked to livelihood and economic stability, saying its livelihood interventions focus on access to clean and safe water, equitable access to healthcare and education, and skills acquisition for women, youth, and orphans.
“Through vocational training and empowerment programs, many beneficiaries have gained sustainable means of income and improved their quality of life.
For WACHEF, celebrating 25 years is not just about counting time; it is about measuring impact, lives touched, and systems strengthened, a milestone requiring moment of reflection, gratitude, and recommitment.
“As we look to the future, WACHEF is positioning itself to deepen and expand its impact. Our focus going forward includes:
* Strengthening community health systems and accountability mechanisms
* Expanding livelihood and economic empowerment programs
* Scaling agroecology and climate justice interventions to enhance resilience
* Deepening advocacy for good governance and transparency in health service delivery
* Investing in innovation, data, and digital tools to improve program effectiveness
* Building stronger partnerships at local, national, and international levels
The BOT Chairman stressed that the commitment of the Foundation is to remain responsive to emerging health and social challenges while staying true to its mission.
“As we celebrate 25 years, we renew our promise to continue empowering women, protecting children, and transforming lives.
Dr Garba Danjuma announced apart from impacting lives, some staff of the Foundation are currently working with some global non governmental organizations.
He was full of praises to the Taraba State Government through its agencies, partners and those who have been supporting the Foundation in its journey in the past 25 years.
The Taraba State of Civil Service, Dr Ahmed Kara who was the Chairman of the occasion, was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency, Pharm. Jacob Akenzukpi.
Pharm. Jacob Akenzukpi.
He commended WACHEF for its impact on communities and its resilience and consistency in the 25 years.
He also recognized the complementary role the Foundation is playing, describing its achievements as remarkable, urging the public to take advantage of the organisation’s activities.
In a message to the event, the Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr Bordiya Buma, represented by the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Tukura Nuhu Nyigwa, praised the Founder for the courage to establish WACHEF.
Dr Tukura Nuhu Nyigwa
He said the organisation’s efforts in the key thematic areas of intervention have helped greatly in reducing pressure on government.
He encouraged citizens to establish and support indigenous health NGOs to complement government efforts, adding that WACHEF has also created jobs for many youths and helped build their skills and experiences.
In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of Taraba State, Chief Gebon Timothy Kataps represented by Mrs Fatima Usman who is the Secretary, Political Affairs in the SGS office, applauded WACHEF for its intervention in the lives of Women and Children in the state.
Mrs Fatima Usman
He pledged the support of his office to WACHEF programmes, which he said aligns with the policy direction of the Agbu Kefas administration.
There were goodwill messages from the Chairmen of Gashaka and Yorro Local Government Councils, the Galadima Muri, Tukur Abba Tukur and WACHEF partner organizations.
Highlights of the anniversary celebration include cutting of the anniversary cake, presentation of Awards to the Taraba State Government and some of the partners for their support to the Foundation.
An Award of excellence was also presented to the founder of WACHEF for his service to humanity.
WACHEF was registered with the Taraba State Government in 2001 and later with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria, CAC in 2005.
