DRASA ADMIN

DRASA ADMIN

  • Joined: October 16, 2025
  • Articles: 210

Honoring Health Workers on the Front Lines

We spent today on Capitol Hill in Washington DC educating US lawmakers and their staff on the tremendous impact frontline health workers have in their communities. DRASA joined the Frontline Health Workers Coalition (FHWC) and other advocates to meet with 9 US Congressional offices, share recommendations for US Congress, and advocate for frontline health workers. Who are frontline health workers? They are caretakers and educators. Without them, there would be no health services for millions of families worldwide. They give vaccines and treat infections. They are on the frontlines of battling deadly diseases like Ebola and HIV/AIDS, and many people rely on them to help prevent, treat, and manage a variety of killer illnesses. They risk their lives to keep us all safe. Just as Dr. Adadevoh and her team did. Why advocate for frontline health workers? The US is a major funder of health interventions in Nigeria and other developing countries so we were pushing for more strategic investment in frontline health worker teams around the world as we know that investing in frontline health workers can save lives, jumpstart economic growth (especially among women), and prevent global health disasters. After the visits to US Congress, we participated in a reception for nearly 100 people, including 52 Congressional staffers. The goal of the reception was to celebrate and honor the contributions of frontline health workers around the world and the essential nature of their work, celebrate successes, and highlight the challenge ahead to ensure the global health workforce can progress. DRASA’s MD Niniola Soleye shared the bravery of frontline health workers, who like Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, risk their lives to keep us healthy and safe. Vince Blaser, Director of FHWC and Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor at IntraHealth, spoke about the need to recognize the roles and contributions of different types of frontline health […]

Balancing for Better: Celebrating Women

What is International Women’s Day? It’s a global day held on 8th March every year to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year’s International Women’s Day theme was “Balance for Better” which is a call to action to accelerate gender balance. We joined our friends at Union Bank to celebrate International Women’s Day this year. The call for gender balance goes beyond just being a women’s issue, it’s a society issue. Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive, as women contribute to their country’s economy both professionally and socially. We know that a strong economy must place the health of its people as priority and women are at the forefront of that, either as healthcare providers, those taking care of the family and home, or those most affected by health issues. Ultimately, the better the gender balance is, the better (and healthier) the world will be!

Humans of DRASA: Funmilayo Thomas

Meet Funmilayo Thomas. One of DRASA’s Youth Trainers. As the eldest child, I had a very strict upbringing. I wasn’t allowed to make mistakes because according to my parents, I’d be leaving a bad example for my siblings to follow. I wasn’t allowed to have friends because they would negatively influence me. Boy…I wasn’t even allowed to complain or grumble about any of it because Our Lord Jesus Christ frowns at that. It was tough! So I kept my emotions, thoughts, and dreams to myself and that turned me to a boring, insecure, shy girl. But even in the midst of my tough upbringing, I knew I wanted more. I started keeping myself busy by joining a children’s club in our community and I eventually grew to teaching Sunday school lessons to the kids at my church. Can you believe it? The shy, insecure, eldest child in front of a room of kids, teaching and leading them. I didn’t even know I had it in me. But gosh, those kids were my babies. They told me their fears, dreams, and thoughts, and I did likewise. I learned a lot from them and we had a very special bond. That was when I understood what it meant to be an influencer in someone’s life. I also got a job counseling hospitalized patients which exposed me to all sorts of new things – people’s struggles and stories really inspired me – and gradually, I gained confidence and my self-esteem increased as I helped people. But I have to say, I had support from a lot of loving people around me along the way. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their encouragement and love. And I’ve made sure to pass that love along. Now fast forward. Here I am working with […]

Humans of DRASA: Temitope Alao-Sanni

Meet Temitope Alao-Sanni. One of DRASA’s Youth Trainers. My older sister is part of the reason I’m where I am today. As a young adult, I knew I didn’t want to study medicine, nursing, biochemistry, veterinary medicine, blah blah blah. All those complicated university courses just didn’t appeal to me. But I knew I wanted to be in the health sector somehow, in the long run. My sister, seeing my confusion, suggested a course I had never heard about; nutrition and dietetics. I was somewhat interested but kept thinking to myself, “How can I go to school and study food for 4 years? I don’t even like food that much, so what will I do afterwards?” I resisted, but my sister continued to encourage me to find out more about what the course entailed. She didn’t give up, so eventually I gave in. And boy, once I started, I knew I had found my passion. It wasn’t just about food. My sister’s advice set me on a new path in life. Her guidance and support were crucial in helping me discover my passion for global health and driving positive change throughout the world through nutrition. This is part of the reason I believe change begins with 1 individual. From that 1 person, a “chain of change” begins which spreads to another person, and subsequently to communities, and eventually to nations. She sparked something in me that has now become larger than I could have ever imagined. I volunteer with organizations and initiatives that support underprivileged individuals and vulnerable communities. I support programs that create avenues to help people understand the important role nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation play in the sustenance of good health and wellbeing. I Iove the energy of teenagers and enjoy working with them especially because I believe […]

Lassa Fever Turns 50 Years Old

Did you know it’s been 50 years since Lassa fever was discovered in northeast Nigeria, in a town called Lassa in Borno State? For this reason, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) organized the Lassa Fever International Conference in Abuja from 16-17 January 2019 to better understand the history, current status, and how our current knowledge of the virus can be improved in order to prevent, detect, and control the disease and save lives. Why Focus On Lassa Fever? Lassa fever was first discovered in Nigeria and named after one of our towns, yet we have no cure, vaccine, or significant research that has been done. We continue to have outbreaks all over the country and many people are still dying from the disease. In fact, in 2018 there were 633 cases and 171 deaths in 23 states across the country and already, just in the first 2 weeks of 2019, we’ve had 60 cases and 16 deaths in 8 states. So we need to think deeply about how little we really know about the disease and what actions we need to take. That’s why this conference was put together. 588 people including nationals from 18 countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australia, and Europe, 11 plenary speakers, 6 panelists, and 160 oral and poster presenters, gathered in Abuja for 2 days to “cerebrate” (rather than celebrate) 50 years of the existence of the viral hemorrhagic disease Lassa fever. “We need not wait for the lion to be done yawning before we run.”-Prof Oyewale Tomori The venerable Professor Oyewale Tomori, a veteran virologist delivered an exciting plenary lecture on “Quinquagenary of a Nigeria Conundrum: Fifty years of the Lassa Fever – Hotter, Bigger and Longer.” During his speech, Prof. Tomori said it’s high time we as Nigerians took over […]

Equipping Health Workers to Fight a Deadly Virus: Our FETHA Story

We just spent a week at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA) in Ebonyi State. What were we doing there? Helping health workers save lives (and save themselves too!) Health workers are often on the frontlines of infectious disease outbreaks. By simply doing their jobs, they are often exposed to patients infected with dangerous diseases, which can easily be passed to other patients, colleagues, family members, visitors, and more. So what can be done? One of DRASA’s core goals is ensuring that health workers – who serve us by keeping us healthy and safe – do not lose their lives in the line of duty like Dr. Adadevoh and her team. To achieve this goal, we train health workers in an area of clinical medicine called infection prevention and control (IPC). What is IPC? Infection prevention and control (IPC) might sound complicated but it’s just a mix of science and practiced behaviors that help prevent patients, health workers, and others from being harmed by deadly diseases, while also ensuring quality health care is provided. IPC is not widely taught or practiced throughout Nigeria. In fact, in November 2018, DRASA was contacted by a doctor from Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA) who asked if we could support FETHA in the area of IPC for Lassa fever. Why Lassa Fever? FETHA – which has over 4,000 staff, 720 patient beds, and 2 campuses/locations – has been battling against Lassa fever and its recurring outbreaks in the region. In the last 2 years (2017 – 2018), FETHA lost 6 health workers and 43 patients to the virus and since 2005, FETHA has lost 14 health workers and 113 patients to the virus. Also, Ebonyi state in Nigeria recorded the highest number of Lassa fever cases and deaths in 2018 (among the general public as well as […]