The Guardian UK Global Development Professionals Network (GDN) has named the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), established by wife of Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki, as one of the favourite Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Heroes of 2015.

This information was contained in a statement released by the Press Office of Mrs. Saraki and made available to News Express.

Mrs. Saraki is the President and Founder of WBFA, an organisation committed to reducing and eliminating preventable maternal and child deaths through advocacy and implementation of innovative interventions.

Having reviewed over a hundred nominations submitted by the general public, the GDN selected a few, which it shared in an article published on its online platform.

The global body specifically commended WBFA for its phenomenal work in bringing best-practice models to Kwara State and the development and distribution of client-held personal health records (PHRs), a partnership with Johnson & Johnson (JnJ), and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) to deliver emergency obstetrics and newborn care ‘skills and drills’ training aimed at lowering maternal mortality rate by up to 20 percent.

The GDN highlighted “Mrs. Saraki’s courageous act” of turning her personal experience of perinatal child loss into the transformational and life-saving Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) which, according to the body, emerged alongside other important players such as Medical Aid for Palestinians in Gaza, Barefoot Lawyers in Uganda and Christian Aid UK, to mention a few.

In her reaction, Mrs. Saraki said the recognition serves as an encouragement for WBFA to do more in preventing mother/infant mortality and empowering women through cutting edge health solutions.

She said: “This nomination is one that is acknowledged by WBFA and will primarily serve as a source of encouragement towards increasing our efforts in the fight to save more lives, and empower women and adolescent girls through innovative, tested and proven solutions/interventions.

“WBFA remains committed to working with communities across Africa to build learning and awareness, as well as empower women, thereby creating opportunities/platforms that enable them to seek better lives for themselves and their communities, while contributing our quota towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

•Photo shows Toyin Saraki.

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