Making a Difference in the Lives of Less Privileged
Handover Heals Foundation (HOHF) was founded in 2016 to fulfill the passion and commitment of its founder, Ms. UkayChima-Jorji, to make a difference in the lives of the less privileged in society.
HOHF’s initial programmatic activities focused on helping individuals with a range of health challenges (physical, mental, psychological, and emotional) overcome the physical, physiological and social challenges in society. Based on the lessons learned from assisting this population, HOHF’s programmatic activities were expanded to include CKD and life-threatening end-stage kidney failure.
Growing up in Nigeria and witnessing first-hand the devastating effect of chronic diseases equipped her with the unwavering determination to get involved and make a difference. Ms. Chima-Jorji could attest to the difficult lives of the sufferers because some of her friends in Nigeria had succumbed to the devasting effect of CKD due to lack of adequate healthcare and financial constraints.
Hospital Data
Hospital Data
Hospital Data
Hospital Data
Hospital Data
Available hospital data indicates that advanced kidney failure accounts for about 10% of all medical admissions in Nigeria. What’s most troubling is that the majority of the patients are young people between 25 and 40 years. Increasing poverty among the vast majority of Nigerians compounds the lack of access to adequate renal care in the country. The most adversely affected are the poor, underprivileged segment of the population which can barely meet their basic needs, much less access to expensive medical treatment and intervention. Unlike in many developed countries where either the government or the insurance companies are largely responsible for funding renal care, the cost is wholly borne by the individuals and their families in Nigeria.
Hospital Data
The Golden Fleece
The dream to establish a foundation to cater to the healthcare needs of the most vulnerable in society began in 2001 when Ms. Chima-Jorji emigrated to the United States in pursuit of the Golden Fleece. A chance meeting with a family friend working at a residential facility as a residential counselor became the turning point in her life. She was touched by the excellent care and treatment given to the less privileged individuals and people with disabilities in the United States and wished the same care and compassionate treatment could be extended to the poor, the less privileged, and the disabled in Nigeria.
She enrolled at Rutgers University in New Jersey, from where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW). A career in social work and public education exposed her to the difficult lives of the poor and underprivileged in society which became the catalyst for her lifelong passion for assisting them.
Within one year of its existence, HOHF had reached out to 10 local health care facilities in five states and numerous rural communities across Nigeria. Service offerings include, but are not limited to, free counseling, preventive health services to several rural communities, and provision of medical equipment supplies.
Our Focus
HOHF is currently focusing on establishing dialysis centers to reduce the scourge of CKD in Nigeria by entering into strategic partnerships with state governments to achieve this goal. At the same, HOHF is also creating awareness of CKD among the population and general practitioners, stressing the imperative of adopting disease-preventing habits. It believes these habits could lead to early diagnosis of CKD, leading to prevention or delay in the onset of kidney failure.
HOHF greatly believes that society commits to addressing the needs of the less privileged through a passion for serving and compassion to give. Giving back to the community should be viewed as a form of social justice and a commitment to address the needs of a population segment that is seen but not heard.
Our Value Orientation
Our Service Population
Our Service Population
At all times, our work with our service population shall be underscored by the following values:
- People-orientation, respect for the rights of our clients, and appreciation of the contributions of our staff
- Uncompromising quality service
- Consistent client satisfaction
- Professionalism in our service delivery
Our Service Population
Our Service Population
Our Service Population
HOHF service population includes:
- The poor, vulnerable and underprivileged
- People afflicted with CKD
- Rural communities with limited or no access to quality healthcare
- Internally-displaced persons