Safe Births Initiative
Taking prevention closer to women in Akure North
The 2026 outreach cycle continued VSF’s community-based approach: practical maternal-health information, locally relevant conversations and clearer routes into care.
Stories & updates
The human story behind the evidence.
A safe birth is a number in an impact report. It is also a mother sleeping without fear, a family moving forward and a child beginning life differently.
Elizabeth’s journey · 2022
Support that held the whole pregnancy.
Elizabeth had experienced two pregnancy losses. During her next pregnancy, malnutrition, demanding physical work and financial pressure created further risk. VSF’s response was continuous: nutrition, medical bills, practical essentials and emotional care.
“They took care of me, paid my medical bills and listened to all my fears.”
Her son was born in February 2022. His safe arrival became one of the foundation’s earliest demonstrations that maternal support must be practical, relational and sustained.
Mother & baby archive
42 journeys of courage and care.
Every family in the existing archive gave consent for its story to be shared. Their records are being carried into the new site as part of VSF’s public history.
Explore all stories
MASTER Ayodele Emmanuel
Mrs Michael was our first beneficiary. Her reality made us realise the enormity of the task before us, including the heart-breaking fact that many of the women in our pilot state were living in conditions unfit for humans talk more of pregnant women. A subsistence farmer who worked alongside her husband; yet received little to no emotional and sufficient financial support from him. She was 20 weeks gone when she became a beneficiary of the Foundation. Our preliminary investigations were disturbing as we discovered that despite her condition and history of miscarriages, she was involved in the strenuous tasks involved with subsistence farming. Similarly, she shares a one-room apartment with her husband’s other wife and four other children. We were also appalled by reports that she had been subjected to physical and emotional abuse. We arranged counselling for her and her husband. In line with our needs-based approach for our beneficiaries, we took care of her medical bills, bought her maternity care items, and provided food items till she gave birth. She gave birth to a baby boy! Earlier this year, we organised a surprise birthday party for her son!
MISS Deborah Iyinloluwa
We met Mrs. Babatunde Justinah Folakemi during the late stage of her pregnancy. Her family had fallen on hard times, and things weren’t going well financially. During our preliminary investigations, we discovered that one of the reasons she lost her previous pregnancy was that she was admitted to a poorly-equipped hospital. We decided not to take any chances. As our beneficiary, Mrs Bababtunde was admitted to the well-equipped Mother and Child Hospital in Akure, one of our healthcare delivery partners. Efforts were made to ensure she receives the best maternal care to aid a smooth delivery. To alleviate the stress on the mother and the baby, we also provided a hospital bag filled with delivery and other essential items. We’re pleased to report that Mrs. Babatunde successfully delivered a baby girl through vaginal birth. In line with our operating procedures, we constantly communicate with the mother and the newborn.
MISS Moyosoreoluwa Naomi
Mrs Rhoda Olatunji became a beneficiary on 9th August 2022 when she was 32 weeks pregnant. We were informed that she did a cerclage because of her incompetent cervix; this is to ensure that the baby is kept in the womb for as long as possible without bearing down on the cervix. She has limited movement so as not to put pressure on her cervix, therefore she had to stop working. Due to her condition, we buy her food items twice a month and we make sure that all her medical and other financial expenses are covered. We also made a refund for the cerclage and other drugs that were bought prior to taking her on. The baby came as a Preterm through a Cesarean section and had to be incubated for weeks. She was christened in the hospital and they were eventually discharged when the baby was healthy enough to come out of the incubator. VSF made payments for all bills incurred by the mother and the child and a stipend was also given when the baby was 6 weeks old. Regular checks are still being made on the family.
MASTER Samuel Oluwatimilehin
To this day, Mrs. Alabi’s experience remains the most startling. At 32 weeks pregnant, she joined the Victoria’s Smile Foundation but had to deal with the added complication of a fibroid growth and a stomach ulcer. Her doctor advised a C-section, which the Foundation funded, along with providing a maternity bag for mother and baby. The infant was born with a fractured arm that required a cast, which has since been removed. We are delighted to report that both mother and child are doing well.
Miles for Mothers
A fifth year of walking for mothers
Supporters completed the ten-mile Stanmore to Bond Street walk, with a parallel walk in Sittingbourne, while fundraising continued for women they may never meet.
Institution building
Building the next layer of evidence and infrastructure
VSF is strengthening its data, research relationships and institutional case while continuing the phased development of Victoria House in Akure.
Our public history
Every story has a place.
The archive keeps the mothers’ journeys, the children’s milestones and the photographs that show what continuous support has made possible. New material can be added through the same AI-managed workflow as the rest of the website.
Visit the archiveMake the next story possible