Meet this amazing Founder creating sustainable solutions for Reproductive, sexual and maternal health problems
Olajumoke Adebayo, Founder Reprolife Nigeria shared in an interview with Attain about her vision to create sustainable solutions for Reproductive, sexual and maternal health issues in Nigeria.
Please kindly tell us about yourself?
My name is Olajumoke Adebayo, I am a Nurse-midwife, reproductive health enthusiast, a current carrignton youth fellow(2018), sexuality leadership development fellow(2018), Leaving no Nigerian Behind(Lennib) champion 2019 and a gender equality advocate. I am the Team lead/founder of Reprolife Nigeria and the Director of programmes for the Nigerian child initiative. I design and create sustainable solutions for Reproductive, sexual and maternal health problems. I enjoy reading and seeking new adventures.
Tell us about your Non-profit?
Reprolife is a youth-led social enterprise with a focus on achieving optimal health and wellbeing for young people women and children. Reprolife started a blog and eventually evolved into a social enterprise. Our focus areas are education, awareness and improving access to reproductive health services. We do this through the use of our new media platforms( blog, podcast and social media platforms) . We also have offline meetups “Passage Between Your Legs" a safe space for young people to discuss different issues and challenges faced with their sexuality. We believe every individual at every stage of development has a sexual and reproductive health need which when not addressed can negatively affect other stages. Hence, our care continuum approach to Reproductive health care delivery.
What brought about your Non-profit and when did it Start?
I was in a lecture back in school and realized women died from childbirth due to preventable causes and I thought to myself “what if they just got quality information, then they would stop dying” and I started with my blog Preggies N babies in 2015, over time I learnt the problems were multifactoral such as level of literacy, socioeconomic status, gender inequality and a continuum. Hence, it evolved and expanded from just education of women and children to improving access to care for also young people.
What were the main challenges you faced early on when you started this Vision and how did you overcome them?
Greatest challenge was getting women and young people to read quality health information, it was quite difficult to get them to read. I persisted however, tried different approaches such as telling stories to get their attention, Some worked, some didn't and it got better. Secondly getting people to volunteer and be dedicated was challenging and is still challenging but we work with the little dedicated volunteers we can work with and try to encourage others to be dedicated.
What was the biggest challenge you ever faced since you started?
Every challenge has been big, I would not say there is one that is worthy of being the biggest challenge.
What do you consider success in your Non-profit?
In 2018 we were able to reach more than 100 young people from discussing issues in our safe space, to building capacities of budding Sexual and reproductive Health and Rights champions to helping ypung people access non-judgemental quality sexual reproductive health services and we hope to reach more people this year. Both online and offline. 2018 was also the year I had the to opportunity to represent Reprolife as a young leader at Partner's Forum, New Delhi India with other young leaders to further advocate for women, children and adolescents; organized by the Partnership for maternal, newborn and child health (World Health Organization initiative).
At what point did you begin to achieve success in your pursuit of your Vision and how did it happen?
2018 was the year and it started with the sexual health meetups.
What would you consider your greatest achievement ever since you started ?
The sexual health meetups for now has been the greatest achievement. I didn't believe we could pull it off and get young people interested but we did!
Who has inspired you the most as a Non-profit founder?
(Mentors/models e.t.c) MY first mentor would be Dr Florence Folami, she sparked the fire in me with just a conversation. Margaret sanger, Dr Ola Brown of Naija Flying doctors and many great women out there chasing their dreams and giving hope to other women to pursue their dreams no matter what.
If you could go back in time, what are the changes you would have made for your Non-profit?
Currently nothing, everything's that has happened is part of my growth and that of Reprolife.
What else should we see you doing in the Future?
Definitely would be advocating for these population, I would be doing more with improving access to quality non-judgemental services through expanding the safe space meetup we currently run to provide services to young people and more outreaches to women of child bearing age, I would also be advocating and pushing for better policies and budgetary allocation thorough engagement of stakeholders and research and last but not the least working to improve leadership and dignified quality care in midwifery practice.
Aside your Non-Profit, what are your other interests?
Have interests in health economics, policy and management and improving leadership and innovation in Midwifery practice.
What's the most important lesson you have learnt since you started your Non-profit?
Consistency and persistence.
Connect with Jumoke Adebayo on social media
Instagram and Twitter: @thejummyadebayo
Email: Olajumoketolu.adebayo@gmail.com
Website: www.reprolifeng.com
Instagram and twitter: @Reprolife_ng
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Proud of you girl. 😘😘
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