Chadash Foundation Celebrates World Widow’s Day

OLISEH OSAI 

Chadash Empowerment Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives and welfare of less privileged Widows and Orphans in the society, celebrated the 2024 International Widow’s Day at Evangelical Church of Winning ALL (ECWA), Tukpechi, Kuja, Abuja, with the theme “My Health, My Right”.

The United Nations started the International Widow’s Day celebration on June 23rd, 2011. The day is set aside to reflect on issues affecting widows and how to safeguard them as well as protect and advance their rights.

At the ceremony marking the day, the founder of Chadash Empowerment Foundation, Mrs Temitope Adeola, said that the International Widow’s Day is a momentous occasion to celebrate the resilience and strength demonstrated by widows in the face of adversity stressing that “it is also a day to honor their courage, reiterate their human rights, celebrate their achievements, and recognize the contributions they make to our communities”.

Mrs. Adeola stated that the strong women as called by the foundation are frequently expose to isolation, oppression, stigmatization, inhumane cultural practices, and economic deprivation adding that “despite all these obstacles they have demonstrated strength, resilience, and bravery and this is why we have come to celebrate, encourage, and support them”.

She stated that this year’s theme, “My Health, My Right” tend for focus and remind widows to take their mental and physical health as their fundamental right because some of them neglect their well-being due to economic hardship, social isolation, and legal vulnerabilities.

The guest speaker, Mrs. Kehinde Popoola, Matron Federal High Court Medical centre encouraged participants to prioritize their health and periodically check their blood pressure and urged the widows not to indulge in the use of over-the-counter medication.

Free general medical check-up was conducted for 60 widows present and food relief pack containing rice, garri, semolina, vegetable oil and noodles were given alongside cash gift to all participants.