Mrs Ololade Ajayi, the Founder, DOHS Care, said at the programme on Sunday that most widows are vulnerable, deprived and faced several challenges alone, hence should be cared for.

Ajayi stated that the programme gave an holistic package to widows, which included sensitising them on their rights and enlightening them on certain things that constituted harmful practices which they should avoid.

She added that the widows were also sensitised on how to stand up for their rights, especially when confronted with inheritance issues; how to seek legal aid and how to be financially empowered and independent.

According to her, the three foundations offered the free medical care and cervical cancer screening to ensure that the widows are living in perfect health.

Ajayi noted that study had revealed that cervical cancer was the third most dominant cancer in Nigeria and had claimed lives of over 80,000 women as at year 2020.

According to her, from the conversation with the widows, issues of rent was the top-most of the challenges they faced, followed by tuition for their children’s schools.

“The widows said that most landlords do not usually like to rent their houses to widows because they assume they may not be able to sustain their annual rent.

“We as foundations will use our community sensitisation programme to educate the community to stop the discrimination against widows.

“We are also putting up a report together for the government, as a wake-up call to its responsibility of providing social coverage for the widows, who are part of the vulnerable group in the society,” she said.

According to the founder, the mission of DOHS Care to assist the vulnerable aligns with that of Godly Widows Initiative and Ezra House which are also faith-based organisations.

She said that these foundations catered for the needs of the widows spiritually and materially.

Also, Mrs Funmi Eyeoyibo, Pastor, Ezra House Church, said that it was important for people, associations and organisations within a community to impact the lives of others, hence the outreach.

Eyeoyibo explained that God had compassion for widows, orphans, strangers and the vulnerable, and that was why the foundations keyed into God’s commandment to give back to their local community.

She disclosed that Ezra House had been involved in such initiatives for the past six years and had an existing lists of about 220 widows that it catered for on quarterly basis.

“This particular programme viz-a-viz others that we have done before is expanded because we have been able to partner with like-minded organisations and also embarked on a medical outreach to the widows, which they may not otherwise have had access to.

“Either because they feel they don’t have the fund or may not even know. So we have been able to create awareness about their mental health, blood pressure, blood sugar level and most importantly the cervical cancer screening,” she said.

According to the cleric, while the initiative is envisioned to celebrate the International Widows Day, it will be sustained by the foundations because it gives room for an expanded outreach.

In appreciation, a widow, Elder Stella Lawal, thanked the organisers for the sensitisation, empowerment, medical outreach and the relief material given to her and the other widows.

Lawal, who lost her husband since 1998, decried the challenges faced by widows and urged all and sundry to always support and comfort them through whatever possible means. (NAN)