Awareness on Heart Diseases/Partial Exchange Transfusion (PET) Project 1.0

SmileBuilders Initiative was formally launched on 30th June, 2018 where we had an Awareness on Heart Diseases/Partial Exchange Transfusion (PET) Project 1.0 that featured activities on the three thematic areas our organization focuses on which were:

1. Sensitization: There were health talks on hypertension and congenital heart defects (‘hole in the heart’) to an audience comprising hypertensives, children with congenital heart defects and their parents, volunteers and other attendees. The talks focused on the definition, risk factors, manifestations, danger signs, care and role of caregivers and prevention of these diseases and were delivered by seasoned guest speakers from Neurology and Paediatric Cardiology Units of University College Hospital, Ibadan. Questions were entertained from the audience and appropriate answers were provided.
2. Screening: We offered free eye screening (visual acuity and fundoscopy), blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) checks for about 30 hypertensives and some other attendees at the program. Through these check-ups, those with refractive errors, hypertensives with poor blood pressure control and those who are obese were identified and counseled appropriately.
3. Support: Medical items that will cater for 50 Partial Exchange Transfusions (PETs) for children with Tetralogy of Fallot (a type of ‘hole in the heart’) receiving care at Paediatric Cardiology Unit of University College Hospital (UCH) were donated. Children who will require this life-saving procedure on UCH Paediatric Cardiology Ward following the donation of these medical items will be having it done at no cost.

2018 Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This was organized in collaboration with The Wellbeing Initiative, One Voice Initiative for Women and Children Emancipation (OVIWCE), The Panacea Project and Federation of African Medical Students’ Association (FAMSA) Headquarters Board and featured myriads of activities including:
Social Media Advocacy: Facts about breast cancer covering definition, burden, risk factors, manifestations, detection, diagnosis, complications, treatment and prevention were put up on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter on a daily basis throughout the month with a view to enlightening the populace about what breast cancer entails.

1. Tweetchats: This featured discussions to dispel the myths about breast cancer and also educate people on current trends in the prevention of the disease. One of the sessions was facilitated by Dr. Femi Olaleye, a cancer prevention enthusiast and Founder of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation-one of the leading non-governmental organizations in cancer screening in Nigeria where he answered questions to clarify grey areas about the disease.
2. Webinar: The webinar sessions facilitated by Dr. Olanrewaju Amusat, Executive Director of SmileBuilders Initiative and Mr. Toyyib Abdulkareem, Founder of The Wellbeing Initiative focused on early detection and management of breast cancer.
3. Radio Programme: This was facilitated by Dr. Olamide Oladipupo, a YALI Alumnus and health care advocate where he was hosted by R2FM (92.9). He gave an overview of breast cancer with emphasis on the risk factors, detection and prevention. He also explained how to do a breast self-examination, an important way to detect a breast lump at its early stage.
4. Health Outreach: We joined the Federation of African Medical Students’ Association (FAMSA) Headquarters Board and Breast Cancer Support Group in an outreach that held in Ojoo Community, Ibadan where we had an awareness walk, health talks and free screening (mammography) for about 60 women all in a bid to sensitize these women about breast cancer and ensure early detection. Resident doctors of Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan were in attendance. The free screening was provided by MeCure, one of the diagnostic centers in Ibadan.

PET Project 2.0

On Tuesday, December 11, 2018, we had the 2nd edition of PET Project at Otunba Tunwase Children Emergency Ward, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. Junior Chambers International (JCI), University of Ibadan was a partner and sponsor of this project.
Medical items that will cater for 50 PETs for children with Tetralogy of Fallot (a type of ‘hole in the heart’) receiving care at Paediatric Cardiology Unit of University College Hospital (UCH) were donated to ensure continuous availability of medical supplies for this life-saving procedure.
Dr. B.E Adebayo, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, UCH, Ibadan delivered a health talk on The Role of Caregivers in the management of children with ‘hole in the heart’. The program had in attendance one of the Paediatric Cardiology nurses, a Senior Registrar in paediatrics, children with tetralogy of fallot and their caregivers and volunteers.

Healthy Commmunity Initiative (HCI) 1.0

On Saturday, May 18, 2019, we had the 1st edition of HCI in commemoration of World Hypertension Day tagged #KnowYourNumbers at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan.
The health outreach held in collaboration with International Society for Hypertension, One Voice Initiative for Women and Children Emancipation (OVIWCE), The Wellbeing Initiative, Volunteers Hub Africa and Federation of African Medical Students’ Association (FAMSA) Headquarters Board. We also received the support of Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), JASON Foundation, Emzor Pharmaceuticals and Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, University College Hospital Branch.
About 130 residents of Yemetu Community and its environs were offered blood pressure check, body mass index check, blood sugar test, urinalysis, malaria test, HIV test, eye tests (visual acuity and fundoscopy), consultation, drugs and appropriate referrals, all at no cost. Dr. Oluwatomi Iken, Public Health Physician, UCH, Ibadan delivered a health talk on Hypertension: The Silent Killer. Dr. Olajide, Senior Registrar, Department of Ophthalmology UCH, Ibadan offered fundoscopy for the beneficiaries.
People with severely elevated blood pressures, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, cataract, amongst others were screened and offered counseling, drugs and appropriate referrals.
The program had in attendance drug representatives from Emzor Pharmaceuticals (provided some free medications), representatives from ARFH (offered HIV screening) and volunteers from partner organizations.

PET Project 3.0

The PET Project 3.0 held on Wednesday, January 21, 2020 at Children Outpatient Clinic, UCH Ibadan. Medical supplies for 50 PETs were donated to the Paediatric Cardiology Unit of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. The event featured activities on the thematic areas our organization focuses on which were:

1. Sensitization: There were health talks on hypertension and congenital heart defects (‘hole in the heart’) to an audience comprising children with congenital heart defects and their parents, volunteers and other attendees. The talks focused on the definition, risk factors, manifestations, danger signs, care and role of caregivers and prevention of these diseases and were delivered by Dr. Adebayo, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, University College Hospital, Ibadan. Questions were entertained from the audience and appropriate answers were provided. The discussions were enlightening and informative!
2. Support: Medical items that will cater for 50 Partial Exchange Transfusions (PETs) for children with Tetralogy of Fallot (a type of ‘hole in the heart’) receiving care at Paediatric Cardiology Unit of University College Hospital (UCH) were donated. Children who will require this life-saving procedure on UCH Paediatric Cardiology Ward following the donation of these medical items will be having it done at no cost. Our organization hopes to sustain this and also expand this PET Project to involve other hospitals.