IMF Background

The utility of preventive measures in disease control is well recognized from time immemorial. Interventions such as health education, environmental sanitation, vaccination with appropriate agents, chemoprophylaxis and more recently genetic manipulation, have proved their worth in preventing or limiting the effects of infections the world over. Gene therapy and “genetic prophylaxis” is now used in addressing genetically acquired diseases the world over. In Africa for example, inherited diseases such as sickle cell disease can now be eradicated thanks to “genetic engineering” by removing the defective gene and inserting a normal one in its place.

 Immunization has been universally effective, but particularly so in the poor resource limited countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Childhood immunization as per WHO guidelines has been highly successful to the point of eliminating some infectious diseases (for example smallpox was declared eradicated in 1972). 

The degree of success however varies from region to region. In Europe and North America where efforts to control infections have been most successful, routine immunization with World Health Organization (WHO)- certified vaccines is for the most part accepted by the general populations and is government-propelled, although minor pockets of mild resistance still exist even in some of those advanced countries. 

One recent example is the opposition to, or rejection of, the measles vaccine administered as part of the trivalent “Measles, Mumps and Rubella” (MMR) vaccine in parts of the United States of America.

The utility of preventive measures in disease control is well recognized from time immemorial. Interventions such as health
education, environmental sanitation, vaccination with appropriate agents, chemoprophylaxis and more recently genetic manipulation, have proved their worth in preventing or limiting the effects of infections the world over. Gene  therapy and “genetic prophylaxis” is now used in addressing genetically acquired diseases the world over.

 In Africa for example, inherited diseases such as sickle cell disease can now be eradicated thanks to “genetic engineering” by removing the defective gene and inserting a normal one in its place. Immunization has been universally effective, but particularly so in the poor resource limited countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Childhood immunization as per WHO guidelines has been highly successful to the point of eliminating some infectious diseases (for example smallpox was declared eradicated in 1972). 

The degree of success however varies from region to region. In Europe and North America where efforts to control infections have been most successful, routine immunization with World Health Organization (WHO)- certified vaccines is for the most part accepted by the general populations and is government-propelled, although minor pockets of mild resistance still exist even in some of those advanced countries. One recent example is the opposition to, or rejection of, the measles vaccine administered as part of the trivalent “Measles, Mumps and Rubella” (MMR) vaccine in parts of the United States of America.

Mission Objectives

The Foundation seeks to render help to poor disadvantaged members of the community in critical areas of disease prevention and control, through the provision, free of charge, of immunization services and antenatal care up to the first three months of pregnancy. 

This would be in concert with state health authorities and other providers, and not in parallel with them.

Operational Guidelines and Activities

An office headed by a director was established within the Headquarters to supervise the takeoff activities of the foundation. A small
working committee (to be known as ‘Action Committee”) consisting of four Board members was mandated to set up the Secretariat, draw up the initial activities and approve expenditure up to a certain limit, beyond which the Chairman of the Foundation or the full Board must approve. The committee was also to develop an action plan for the Foundation. Members of this committee are: 

          1.       AIG Adamu Gombe Abubakar

2.     Alhaji Yaya Hammari

3.     Dr. Habu Dahiru