As part of efforts to deliver on its mandate to address sustainable development and promote economic and social growth across underserved communities in sub-Saharan Africa, the TESS Foundation Africa, an African-based nonprofit organization has launched its project R.I.S.E (Raising Initiatives for Societal Empowerment) programme. 

The Project R.I.S.E programme was set up to address the disparities between the health needs of rural communities and the availability of adequate healthcare providers.

The R.I.S.E initiative was borne out of a need to ensure unhindered access to quality healthcare and promote rural development through a comprehensive approach and innovative empowerment programmes. 

Speaking at the launch of project R.I.S.E, Adebukunola Telufusi, Director of TESS Foundation Africa said:”Our pledge is to address the growing need for equitable and sustainable developments while bridging the gap in economic and social growth across the underfunded demography. TESS Foundation Africa is an African organization for Africans that advocates for rural development and R.I.S.E is an effective catalyst to address pertinent issues and concerns in rural communities in Africa”.

She went on to state that the project R.I.S.E initiative will address these critical issues plaguing the healthcare system in underserved communities by establishing a more innovative system and tools that will deliver competent and comprehensive healthcare services and education to the communities. 

The keynote speaker at the project R.I.S.E launch, Chairman of the 8th Senate Committee on Health, National Assembly (2015 – 2019), Senator (Dr.) Olanrewaju Tejuosho, stated his belief in the Executive Director and the R.I.S.E project.

He said that many organizations had embarked on such projects which eventually didn’t pan out, but his interactions with the Executive Director had convinced him that this was a worthy project that would be carried out to completion and stated his willingness to support it.

Programme Managers for the TESS Foundation, Joy Ighowhemu and Chinenye Ekwueme spoke to fostering inclusivity and creating a healthier and more empowered society over the years by providing access to high-quality healthcare, medications, screening, medical consultations, and educational programmes for children through TESS Medical Care Access Initiative (MCAI) and the TESS Foundation Academy.

They concluded by emphasizing that to record more successes on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) already achieved in Africa, there was a need for a comprehensive and integrated long-term approach towards achieving quality health for rural African communities, hence the idea for the project R.I.S.E initiative was birthed. 

The project R.I.S.E initiative will focus on the key areas of health, education, community development and technology to address the major needs of underprivileged persons and adequately bridge the gap in economic development across the rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa.