Over 15 million persons have reportedly benefitted from the activities of Cartas Nigeria, including health care, educational support, agricultural and livelihood support among other humanitarian interventions provided by the group. This was disclosed by Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos and Chairman, Board of Caritas Nigeria, at a press briefing, announcing the 2024 Caritas Day, marked on Sunday, September 22, 2024, with the theme, “Giving back to the community.”
Archbishop Martins called on government and people of goodwill to join Caritas Nigeria in uplifting the poor, adding that the essence of humanity is to “love neighbour as self “, by demonstrating selfless love and compassion for others through their activities. The Archbishop disclosed that ‘Caritas Day’, celebrates the impact that Caritas Nigeria has made on communities, as well as the love, support, and strength of the communities, which have been pivotal to the success of its mission to bring lasting joy and hope to the most vulnerable in society.
“Since its inception,14 years ago, Caritas Nigeria has progressively implemented over 65 complex humanitarian and development projects, following its thematic areas of focus, including emergency response and humanitarian services, good governance among others”, he said. According to him, through its interventions, Cartas Nigeria has reached over 15 million beneficiaries with diverse services across communities in Nigeria, including supporting over 10 million persons with HIV testng and counselling services, TB diagnosis and treatment. He disclosed, “We are currently providing Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) to over 140,000 persons living with HIV, while supporting over 100,000 orphans and vulnerable Children (OVC).
“Our humanitarian interventions have supported over 5 million persons, including internally displaced persons, their host communities and returnees affected by the insurgency in North-East Nigeria. “We have also helped in providing water sanitation and hygiene services such as drilling boreholes, providing ventilated pitVIP latrines and rehabilitation of water pumps. We have been instrumental also in providing agricultural input-support to farmers, nutritional support to acutely malnourished children and young people, education in emergency initiatives, amongst others. “Charitas Nigeria is also involved in protection and migration interventions, improving the livelihoods of vulnerable groups: victims of human trafficking, irregular migrants and refugees, peace building efforts and election monitoring interventions across Nigeria.”
Also speaking on the occasion, Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Caritas Nigeria, appreciated all, including international donors who have supported the activities of Caritas Nigeria since its inception fourteen years ago. He said the foundation will continue to be transparent, and accountable by ensuring that the resources at its disposal are judiciously utilised for the purposes they are meant for. Caritas Nigeria, is a part of Caritas Internationalis, the international charity organ of the Catholic Church that coordinates charity activities of the Church all over the world. It was founded by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in 2010, to superintend over and facilitate the charity works of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
