Victoria’s Smile Foundation (VSF) has combined education on sepsis during pregnancy with health checks, referrals and follow-up support at a maternal health sensitisation programme held in Aponmu, Ondo State
VSF is a Nigerian maternal health organisation with its registered office in Lagos. Ondo State has been its pilot state and remains the principal setting for its delivery experience. Founded by Sade Adesakin and incorporated in 2019, the Foundation combines sustained maternity support with community prevention, drawing on public-sector relationships and local healthcare providers.
The programme focused on helping pregnant women understand the risks associated with infection, recognise concerns that require professional attention and seek care promptly. Participants were encouraged to attend antenatal appointments and discuss unusual symptoms with qualified health personnel.
The session placed infection awareness within the everyday decisions women face during pregnancy: attending antenatal care, reporting concerns to qualified health personnel and following a referral when further assessment is needed. Its purpose was to connect information with access to professional care.
VSF’s activity record states that health checks were conducted during the programme and that women showing indications of possible infection were referred to the General Hospital for further assessment and treatment. The record describes indications identified during screening; it does not present those observations as confirmed diagnoses.
The Foundation’s team followed up with the women who had been referred, encouraging them to obtain the recommended care and checking on their progress. This follow-up connected a community education event to the formal health system and gave the team a means of maintaining contact after referral.
From awareness to a pathway of care
The Aponmu programme formed part of VSF’s Safe Births Initiative, which takes maternal health education, basic screening and referral support into community and healthcare settings. By September 2026, the Foundation’s sensitisation register documented 17 programmes on subjects including antenatal care, malaria prevention, skilled birth attendance, nutrition, maternal mental health, HIV and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, birth preparedness and danger signs in pregnancy.
The depth of VSF’s work is particularly evident in its direct-support programme. Community events create an opportunity to reach women with information and screening, while a difficult pregnancy may require repeated medical expenditure and months of coordination for one family.
The Foundation’s second core programme, Smile Motherhood, provides a more intensive form of assistance. It supports women dealing with complex or higher-risk pregnancies and includes a pathway for hospital bills. The full maternity pathway can cover four months of antenatal support and continue for six weeks after birth. Medical costs, coordination and follow-up make it VSF’s most expensive programme per woman.
A maternal health organisation with an institutional base
VSF was founded by Sade Adesakin after a 15-year experience of infertility, miscarriage and stillbirth. The organisation was registered in Nigeria in 2019 and is governed by trustees. Local delivery is coordinated by Tolu Alade, Programme Officer, and Tayo Fagbemi, Assistant Programme Officer, working with health professionals and a strong volunteer network. Volunteers contribute to community mobilisation, logistics, beneficiary contact and programme delivery, supported by donors and partner institutions.
The Foundation’s compliance records include incorporation by the Corporate Affairs Commission, registration with the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering and registration with the Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Its public-sector engagement includes the Ondo State Ministry of Health, the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Hospital Management Board and Mother and Child Hospital in Akure.
In its September 2026 update, VSF confirms 73 women supported, including one mother who had twins. These are women receiving individual support, rather than a tally of babies or outreach participants. The Foundation’s experience also includes pregnancy and neonatal losses, making continued support and careful outcome reporting important parts of its work.
The Aponmu programme illustrates the connection VSF seeks to strengthen between community education and hospital care. Its next phase is intended to deepen that work within Ondo, building more dependable local arrangements for mobilisation, referral and follow-up, supported by programme staff and volunteers.
Further information www.victoriassmilefoundation.com | info@victoriassmilefoundation.com
