RESILIENCE TO THRIVE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY
The never-die spirit is a driving force in our service to our community, especially to those who are living with mental health disorders; this is because we are aware that a genuine concern for others in our community will go a long way to building a sustainable future. In our country, Nigeria, we understand that there exists a significant gap in knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders, and as an organization, we have continued to bridge these gaps to restore the lives of people with the disorders who are unable to afford access to medical treatment.
On March 28, 2024, we coordinated the treatment and rehabilitation of a woman who had been living with mental illness for over seven years. Mrs. GH, who is our 7th patient and is 64 years old, had been seated by the roadside, under the rain and sun, and a look at her would break even the most hardened heart. Her story highlights the practicability of God's grace and mercies in the lives of men and the need for all of us to put humanity before parochial inclinations. On that day, the grace of God found her, and she was hospitalized; her medical bills and all other expenses were paid for by our organization until her discharge on July 29th, 2024. (The sum of two million one hundred and fifty thousand Naira, N2,150,000 ($2,150), was approximately spent on her medications and housing accommodation (N550,000 ($550)) for a rent of one year). Prior to her admission, she was homeless, but we understand the importance of shelter for people with mental health disorders living on the street; therefore, we paid and provided her with an apartment where she’s living with her children.
We are committed to continuing to rescue and restore these lives because what is the essence of humanity if not to show deep concern for others? Mental health disorders come with a lot of challenges for individuals and their families. We recognize how daunting it is for many families to navigate these times, and that is why our organization, Chisovn/CIFHF, is devoted to helping families who cannot afford access to healthcare. Indeed, our goal is to end the stigma attached to mental health disorders and help as many people as possible regain their lives through medical treatment and vocational rehabilitation. We are making a passionate appeal to men and women of goodwill; you can be a part of our journey through volunteering and donations. Nothing is too small; just as the raindrops create a mark on the soil after a rainfall, so is the impact of your support in our community. $1 or even N100 can go a long way; for instance, at the time of this writing, $1 = N1,700.
To those who have been supportive of our work, we are grateful and will continue to deploy the resources to support those living with mental health disorders.
Josiah, C. Nnamani
Coordinator, Chisovn/CIFHF
Enugu, Nigeria.
October 20, 2024