Fantsuam Foundation provides a continuum of prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation, long-term care and support, and palliative and end of life care.
Fantsuam Foundation is one of the foremost organizations dedicated to serving older persons in northern Nigeria. Based in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Fantsuam services covers 5 local Government areas with about 300,000 population of persons above 65 years old. Fantsuam articulated her view on the need for a national policy at the national workshop on The Need For a National Policy on 09th July, 2014 at the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
Fantsuam may have been one of the first organizations to provide a monthly stipend to its 126 grandmothers from 2010. The next efforts similar to this was in 2011 when Ekiti State rolled out its social pension for residents over the age of 65. This was closely followed by Osun State in 2012. Unfortunately, this vital service for older persons did not spread to other states.
Fantsuam was a contributor to AgeWatch, the only periodical dedicated to Ageing issues in Nigeria.
Fantsuam Foundation also participated in the MIPAA review in preparation for the Ageing in the 21st Century report. This ensured that the voices of Nigeria’s older people were included in this ground-breaking report. In 2012, the Fantsuam Foundation became HelpAge’s first Affiliate in Nigeria.
At the international level, Fantsuam has consistently followed the evolution of the UN’s Open Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG) Nigeria’s ost-2015 focal point was to attend the 11th session of the OEWG on Sustainable Development in New York on 5th May, 2015 and promote Nigeria to be a champion of a post-2015 framework for all people of all ages.
Fantsuam witnessed the Age Demands Action (ADA) when it was launched in 2007 in 27 countries. However, since 2012, campaign actions also take place on World Health Day (7 April) and Elder Abuse Awareness Day (15 June). These days give older people to meet governments and follow up to pledges made in the past.
In 2012, Fantsuam became HelpAge’s first Affiliate member in Nigeria and has been observing the United Nations World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day (15th June) since 2012, the International day of Older Persons on 01st October and participated in MIPAA review in preparation for the Ageing in the 21st Century report.
Fantsuam hosts the offices of the Jema’a Older Persons Association, JOPA.
Fantsuam is a founding member of the Association Of Care Service Providers to Older Persons in Nigeria (ACSPOPIN). The association provides capacity building, resource mobilization, standardization, advocacy, quality assurance and quality control to improve the quality of life for older persons.