Projects Implementation

Emmanuel Teryila Memorial Liberty Foundation (ETMLF) is a community-driven organization committed to improving the lives of vulnerable children, women, and underserved households. Over the years, ETMLF has implemented life-changing health, social protection, livelihood, and accountability projects across Benue Taraba, Enugu, Ebonyi, Niger, Plateau States and the FCT and . Below is an overview of our major interventions.

1.CCFN SUSTAIN Project Catholic Carits Foundation of Nigeria-Sustainable Treatment of HIV/AIDS In Nigeria (2014 – 2015)

The SUSTAIN Project marked ETMLF early community health interventions. The project focused on creating demand for HIV Counseling and Testing (HTC) and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services in Gwer East, Gwer West, and Makurdi LGAs.

Key Achievements:

  • Reached 71,051 persons with HIV awareness and testing services.
  • Identified 362 HIV positive individuals and successfully linked them to care.
  • Tested 7,867 children for malaria through self-funded support.
  • Distributed 1,525 Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs).

This project strengthened community trust, increased voluntary HIV testing, and reduced stigma through collaboration with primary health centers and local government health authorities.

2.SMILE Project- Sustainable Mechanism for improving household and livelihood empowerment project

The SMILE Project was designed to address poverty, malnutrition, low education access, and HIV-related vulnerabilities in Gwer East and Konshisha LGAs. The goal was to improve sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable children and their caregivers.
Under this project about 14,118 vulnerable children were reached.

Health and HIV services

  • 8,616 vulnerable children and 217 caregivers tested for HIV.
  • 915 adolescents received sexual and reproductive health education
  • 4810 caregivers trained and graduated from the gender norms sessions
  • 5806 children provided with birth registration certificates
  • 1022 households/caregiver were supported with conditional cash transfer
  • 58 adolescents trained in vocational skill an provided start up kits
  • 2,100 beneficiaries supported with ARV escort services.
  • 4,325 beneficiaries received monthly adherence counseling.
  • 35 pregnant women linked to PMTCT services.
  • 39 HIV-exposed infants tested negative after follow-up.

Nutrition & Emergency Support:

• 244 households received food support.
• 23 emergency health cases supported, including surgery and severe malnutrition treatment.
The SMILE project also established an Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) center and supported school enrollment through block grants, creating sustainable community systems.

3. APIN iCARES Project - Improving care for AIDS Response Enhanced for Sustainability

. Under the iCARES Project in Konshisha LGA, ETMLF provided comprehensive support to vulnerable children and households affected by HIV/AIDS.

Key Results:

• 11,141 beneficiaries reached.
• 1,316 participants retained on ART (100% retention rate).
• 97% viral load suppression achieved.
• 2,438 birth certificates provided in collaboration with government partners.
• 229 households supported with economic strengthening interventions.
• Over 613 adolescents received prevention and life skills education.
• 54 adolescents enrolled in vocational skills and provided startup kits

The iCARES project strengthened education access, livelihood resilience, and long-term health outcomes for vulnerable families.
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4. NASSP – Third Party Monitoring (NASSCO) National Social Safety Nets project.

The National Social Safety Nets Project (NASSP) is a social protection programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria implemented through the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) with World Bank support. Its scope is targeting poor and vulnerable households through a structured Social Register and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) system that provided regular financial support (NGN 5,000 monthly, paid bi-monthly) to reduce extreme poverty and improve household resilience. The NASSP established a reliable and transparent national social protection system capable of identifying the poorest households using community based targeting system and delivering direct financial assistance. ETMLF monitored project implementation as TPM across Benue, FCT, Taraba, Niger, Enugu, and Ebonyi States.
To check transparency and compliance with principles of identification of the poor and vulnerable households (PVHHs);
To check transparency and compliance with principles of selecting beneficiaries;
To verify payments of cash transfers to beneficiaries; and
To establish amount of disbursement of cash transfer by Payment Service Providers (PSP) to beneficiaries selected from the National Social Register;
To verify functionality of the grievance management mechanism and the effectiveness for managing complaints and appeals.
To assess adequacy of education, information and communication mechanisms of the project at all levels.
Over 20,000 beneficiaries were monitored using the Open data kit ODK ,Focused group discussions and key Informant interviews were deployed for monitoring during the exercise.

5. NG-CARES Programme

The programme was designed as a nationwide response to the economic shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal CARES Support Unit and supported by the World Bank, the programme used a Program-for-Results (PforR) financing approach to strengthen state-level delivery of social protection, food security, and livelihood support. Its scope covered social support to vulnerable households, Labor Intensive Public Works (LIPW), and grants to farmers, agricultural value chains, and micro and small enterprises to prevent economic collapse and job losses. ETMLF as a Third-Party Monitor in Benue and Plateau States, strengthened accountability systems and ensured compliance with beneficiary selection guidelines.
• 3,310 beneficiaries monitored using digital Open date kits.
• 170 Focus Group Discussions conducted.
• 90 Key Informant Interviews conducted.
• Total of 3,570 monitoring engagements.
The programme improved transparency, strengthened accountability systems, and ensured recovery support reached vulnerable households, farmers, and small businesses as designed.

6. Global Fund Cycle 7 – National Tuberculosis, HIV, and Resilient & Integrated Systems for Health Project (GC7 N-THRIP)

The Global Fund Cycle 7 – National Tuberculosis, HIV, and Resilient & Integrated Systems for Health Project (GC7 N-THRIP) is aimed at promoting, preventing, prompt diagnosis, treatment and providing TB services in the state. It encompasses a Community Public-Private Mix (cPPM). This is to ensure that all cases of TB are found through facility and community active case finding. The community component is implemented through Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) through a series of recommended activities such as House-to-house strategy, outreaches, poor housing conditions like:
Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and refugees camps
Slums and Nomads settings and refugee camps; migrating population like the nomads etc. These strategies ensure that all population are covered and case detection is optimized.
ETMLF is the lead Community-Based Organization for Zone A which comprises of 7 LGAs of Katsina ala, Konshisha, Kwande,Logo,Ukum, Ushongo and Vandeikya. So far ETMLF has screened
48,721 persons have been screend for TB
20,075 presumptives cases have been identified
1,512 TB cases have been notified

So far

1. ETMLF is currently working as a Third Pary Monitor for the NIGERIA COVID 19 ACTION RECOVERY AND ECONOMIC STIMULUS NG- CARES in Benue and Plateau States
2. ETMLF is currently collaborating with APIN INITIATIVES to implement the aCARES project across six thematic areas in Konshisha Loc Govt. a CDC funded project, an acceleration of the iCARES Project in the LGA.
3. ETMLF worked as a Third Party Monitors for The Cash Transfer Program under the National Social Safety Nets Program (NASSP) in Benue, Taraba, Niger, FCT, Ebony and Enugu States. A World Bank Project sub-granted to the Federal Government of Nigeria, managed by the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO)
4. ETMLF collaborated with APIN INITIATIVES to implement the iCARES project across eight thematic areas in Konshisha Loc Govt. a CDC funded project benefitting 11,141 vulnerable children and their caregivers. Vulnerable children in households affected by HIV/AIDs with the aim of improving their livelihood and empowering their economic strength to be able to sustain it through best practices. About 2046 households were enrolled and served across the 6+1 service domain as prescribed by the national guidelines
5. Collaborated with Catholic Relief Service to implement Sustainable Mechanism for Improving Livelihood and Household Empowerment (SMILE) to implement an OVC project in two LGAs of Gwer-East and Konshisha respectively. A USAID OVC funded project which benefitted over 15,000 orphans and vulnerable children in households affected by HIV/AIDs with the aim of improving their livelihood and empowering their economic strength to be able to sustain it through best practices. About 4,000 households were enrolled and served across the 6+1 service domain as prescribed by the national guidelines.
6. ETMLF has collaborated with and implemented the U.S Ambassador Small Grants Program funded by US EMBASSY.
 The United States Ambassador’s Small Grants program (ASG) provides one-time small grants to community development programs that improve the socio-economic wellbeing and/or health of the community implemented in Ushongu local government. The grants has benefited over 3700 children in Economic strengthening activities, nutrition and food security, protection, among other service areas some of which include Basic education/training programs or workshops in the areas of:
 Food and nutrition
 Safe infant feeding and weaning
 Caregivers’ practices
 HIV/AIDS prevention and care
 Legal and protection aid
7. ETMLF has Collaborated and partnered with the CATHOLIC CARITAS FOUNDATION OF NIG on the SUSTAIN PROJECT to implement HTC/PMTCT activities in 3 Local Government areas in Benue State with over 43000 beneficiaries across these LGAs.
8. ETMLF has Collaborated with USAID on the SESAME STREET PROJECT to Successful introduce the strategies for child approach to Benue state government through Ministry of Education and eventual establishment of the Early Child Care Departments in both colleges of education Kastina- Ala and Oju respectivelyusing the said strategies.
9. ETMLF has successfully conducted baseline survey of OVC, water and environmental hygiene in Ten (10) local govt areas of Benue State with a documentary tape for viewing.

10. ETMLF has taken part in Training of trainers (Master TOT) on prevention strategies for children age 3-9 to Early Child Care Education lecturers of colleges of education, Kastina –Ala and Oju respectively.(2011) using the sesame street approach
11. ETMLF has conducted HCT counselling and treatment of 1600 persons (of which 850 were between the ages of 4-17) infected with STI’s such as Syphillis, HIV/AIDS, Candidasis, Gonhorrea and Staphylococus across 23 communities of Ibiono Ibom loc.govt, Akwa-Ibom State.(2009) (Supported by the Speaker, AKSHA who hails from the local govt) and the two Coucillors from the two council wards of the communities.
12. ETMLF has carried out Prevention strategies training workshop for children age 3-11 in 12 Nur/Primary Schools in Akwa-Ibom and Benue States using the Sesame Street approach (Supported by the ministries of education Akwa Ibom and Benue State respectively.
13. ETMLF collaborated with USAID on the SMILE project to carry out active case finding for TB to over 12000 persons where presumptive cases were duly escorted for Gen Xpert and X ray accordingly.
14. ETMLF has developed a Child Care Trust Fund to mobilize resources to assist orphans and vulnerable children in the most impoverish communities to access basic education using internal resources.

Some activity Photos

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ETMLF

ETMLF staff at the NASSP orientation

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CCFN SUSTAIN

HTS on CCFN SUSTAIN and distribution of LLINs to breastfeeding mothers

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iCARES

Education Block Grant in a community On the iCARES project

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NG-CARES

Beneficiary on the NG CARES making soap after receiving training and start up capital

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NG-CARES

Beneficiary farmer on the NG CARES project after receing agricultural agricultural inputs

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TB

Chilhood TB Screening during the integrated TB/HIV childhood TB week

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CCFN SUSTAIN

HTS on CCFN SUSTAIN

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NASSP

Focused Group Discussions On NASSP across communities

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NASSP

ODK tools piloting on the NASSP




Stories

Adzer Aondoungwa

UNIQUE HH ID NO: BEN/ GWER/ETF 00006/0003)

But for the timely intervention of ETMLF with support from the USAID-CRS SMILE project Emergency Response, this hearty child would be history by now. Abandoned by his father, Aondoungwa, 1st out of four lives with her young mother and 3 siblings in the remote Mbakosu community, Mbaakange, Gwer LGA. Enrolled on the8/11/2014, Aondoungwa from time to time complained of stomach pain but was not attended to or would only get Panadol to take until his tummy began to swell. In April 2015, ETMLF during home visits to vulnerable household met the 10 yrs. old in critical condition and rushed him to the hospital where a scan was recommended immediately. The scan revealed perforation of the intestine (due to acute typhoid fever) with stool spilling directly into the stomach. A major surgery was urgently recommended. ETMLF sought for approval from the SMILE Project emergency response to enable the surgery which was carried out on the 19th May 2016 amidst fears. Results showed 8 perforations on the intestine., After stitching, the surgical wound opened and food started coming out through it directly after consumptions, this was as a result of other perforations on the intestine that were not noticed. A second surgey was required to correct the situation. It however took 1yr 6moths before the second surgery. This was because he lost weight beyond attempting a surgery. He was reduced to a living skeleton and needed to add a little flesh to his bones before an operation would take place. The direct passage of food and stool through the surgical wound could not permit him to put on a little weight. With a well-managed situation and proper feeding, Doctors qualified him for the second surgery after a year and six months. Successfully done, Aondoungwa was finally discharged from the hospital on the 12th Dec 2017. He has fully recovered and has been re-enroolled back in school. He is currently in primary 5.

Aondoungwa

DURING INTERVENTION

Aondoungwa

AFTER INTERVENTION

Aondoungwa

AWUA SOLOMON SESUGH

2016

The USAID –CRS SMILE Project provide Emergency funds to implementing CSOs to support mmost vulnerable children on the project to get access to health services where it would have been difficult . This support goes a long way in taking care of hospital bills and other basic health care needs. In the case of HIV/AIDS, purpose is to assist with health care and HIC treatment and uptake of HIV services for Vulnerable Children and their Caregivers on the project. The objective is to reduce risk of HIV transmission in the case of mother to Child Transmission,, mortality and morbidity among Vulnerable Children and their Caregiver by ensuring beneficiaries have timely access to community and facility-based HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services. SMILE empowered CSO community volunteers to directly provide community-based HIV Testing Services. Solomon Sesugh Awua, a 10 years old children who has through the Emergency respond support, benefitted access to HIV treatment, Care and support services. living with his aged maternal grandmother , Solomon was found critically ill during Household Follow up Assessment exercise and taken to St Vincent Hospital, Aliade by ETMLF, the implementing CSO in Gwer East LGA. He was referred from his community by one of our volunteer,. Solomon had lost both his twin sister and parents to HIV/AIDS. He and his parents were on ARV until they both died and since after their death four years back from time of meeting. He stopped receiving ARVs due to the grandmother’s ignorance to Access. He also stopped going to school. Solomon became ill and was discovered just in the nick of time. As at the time of this referral Solomon’s whole body was fully swollen, his body was also covered with rashes and sores. He could neither walk eat nor sit because of the sores that had also entered his mouth and anus. He needed 3 pints of blood urgently as his PC stood at 8% PCV. Solomon spent a total of 12 days in the hospital during which he was given 3 pints of Blood and 6 drips with intensive administration of drugs for immune boosting stability, energy and general wellbeing. By the time he was discharged, Solomon was in good shape and only need care and support for onward recovery and fitness. ETMLF also provided feeding for Solomon and his grandmother during their stay in the hospital , a gesture that has continued from time to time, Solomon was reenrolled back to school and started all over as he was just in primary 1 when he stopped A brilliant child, Solomon benefits services such as education performance assessment, Escort services, cash transfer and continuous nutrition education and counseling support as well as food packages from time to time. He has since resumed ARVS

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Solomon in the hospital durin intervention

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Solomon in the hospital with his caregiver. His maternal grandmother ( ETMLF) Pm routine Visit Solomon

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AWUA SOLOMON SESUGH

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Solomon Leaving his ward at st. Vincent's Hosptal Aliade

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Solomon at the barbers Shop for clean up

mcieve nande

SMILE support Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to increase access to and uptake of HIV services for Vulnerable Children and their Caregivers on the project. The objective is to reduce the risk of HIV transmission; mortality and morbidity among Vulnerable Children and their Caregiver by ensuring beneficiaries have timely access to community and facility-based HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services. SMILE empowered CSO community volunteers to directly provide community-based HIV Testing Services. This includes referral and provision of escort and accompaniment to the facility for Prevention of Mother to Child transmission (PMTCT) Services. Identified pregnant HIV positive beneficiaries are provide monthly community adherence assessment and counseling on PMTCT. One of such beneficiaries supported to access HIV Testing Services is Mr and Mrs Nande’s household a discordant couple with the wife Doosuur living with HIV. At the time the CSO identified the couple they had four children all HIV positive and Mrs Nande Doosuur was pregnant with their fifth child. Doosuur confirmed that she was aware of her HIV status and on ART but not adhering; she never attended antennal because she could not afford it and has always delivered her babies at home without difficulty. The four children where frequently sick and were treated with herbs without much relief. Emmanuel Teryila Memorial Liberty Foundatuon(ETMLF) enrolled the family on the SMILE project and with support from SMILE Doosuur’s children were screened for HIV and all four were HIV positive. The children were accompanied by CSO Community Volunteer to General hospital to commence treatment and Doosuur for the first time attended antenatal care. The family was provided food support, adherence counselling and escort services to ensure retention in to treatment. At the time of enrollment two of the children were very sick and died soon after commencing treatment. Doosuur however for the first time delivered a healthy baby girl a few months after the death of her youngest child in a hospital. The hospital bill was paid though the emergency funds provided by SMILE and the mother supported to return for Early Infant Diagnosis were the initial results are negative.The baby -Mchive is fourteen months old , walking and healthy. When Doosuur was asked how she felt about the result of her child, She broke down in crying, tears of joy, she said she had never been this happy, she said that was the happiest moment of her life and she thanked God and the SMILE project for making it possible.

Elated Doosur expresses herself as ETMLF PM sought to know her feelings.