Dr. Bernadine Ekpenyong

Dr. Bernadine Ekpenyong is a public health practitioner and lecturer at the University of Calabar Department of Public Health in Calabar, Nigeria. While working with two NGOs to feed and care for street children, Dr. Ekpenyong and her colleagues realized that other groups were also doing this; seeking to coordinate efforts and avoid duplication, they formed a coalition. Dr. Ekpenyong coordinates the coalition’s activities in two areas: feeding children and reunifying families.

The pandemic’s impact upon street children was severe. The venues that were their sources of income and food before the pandemic—such as markets, parks, and transit hubs—were now closed, and simply staying alive was much more difficult than before. As part of their response, the coalition worked to reunite more children with their families. Connecting with children first through the food program, the team introduced them to the idea of rejoining their family and offered counselling sessions to develop it further. 

Family reunification work involves contributions from across the coalition’s areas of activity. Counsellors support both the child and caregiver through the process; responding to family needs, the coalition also offers health care services; groceries; school fees and supplies; and adult skills training to build earning capacity.