Dear Friends of the Frederick Foundation,
I am Margaret Esiri, Emeritus Professor of Neuropathology at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford and Founder of the Frederick Foundation.
For those of you who are just getting to know us, the Frederick Foundation holds a deeply personal significance for me. It was founded in memory of my late husband, Dr Prince Frederick Esiri, an Oxford Medical Graduate from Nigeria who devoted his life to running a Health Clinic in Taraba State, Nigeria. His unwavering passion for improving healthcare in his homeland has been the inspiration behind all that we do. This charity honours Frederick’s legacy by continuing the work he cared about so deeply.
Dr. Prince Frederick Esiri
Our mission has two main objectives:
- Improving Stroke Outcomes in Africa: We are committed to improving stroke outcomes for patients across sub-Saharan Africa, starting with the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Nigeria, with the intention of extending further. Stroke is a devastating condition that affects far too many lives, and with your support, we are determined to change that.
- Fostering Academic Collaboration: We aim to establish a lasting academic link between the medical schools in Ibadan, Nigeria, and Oxford, UK. By fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge, we can advance research and treatment not only for stroke but also for other neurodegenerative diseases.
Watch Professor J. A. Otegbayo, Chief Medical Director of UCH Ibadan, explain how the Frederick Foundation’s support is helping to establish the hospital’s stroke unit and the positive impact it will have on thousands of patients in the largest teaching hospital in West Africa.
Our first efforts are directed towards improving the outcomes for stroke sufferers admitted to the newly established Acute Stroke Unit at Ibadan University Hospital. A team of medical professionals are expected to visit Oxford in 2025 to observe how Acute Stroke Units operate in the UK. Their visit is being arranged in collaboration with the Oxford University
Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx) and the
Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and with our colleagues in the
University College Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. These initiatives are organized with the support of various academic and clinical partners, ensuring access to cutting-edge expertise and training opportunities.
When they return to Ibadan these professionals will put into practice the procedures they have learnt about during their visit, and share their knowledge with their colleagues. We shall collect data on stroke outcomes and hope to show improvements.
Beyond expert care, improved stroke outcomes also depend on access to brain imaging, which is essential to determine the nature of the stroke and the most effective treatment. Unfortunately, many stroke patients in Nigeria cannot afford these costs. The Frederick Foundation is committed to assisting those unable to pay, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent access to life-saving care.
These costs are substantial and we have an initial target of £1 million to support the Stroke Unit in Ibadan. We also intend to raise a further £1 million to support collaborative exchange of personnel, ideas, best practice and research between Ibadan and Oxford Medical Schools. These exchanges will start in 2025 with an exchange of medical students. This project has start-up support from the van Houten Fund, held by Oxford University, and also with a donation from one of our Trustees. St Hugh’s College, Oxford, where I am an Emeritus Fellow, is also contributing by offering accommodation for students coming from Ibadan.
St Hugh’s has a long history of supporting African students, including presenting the first young African woman for an Oxford degree in 1935.
As you can see, our plans are ambitious, but we are encouraged by the tremendous support from both Ibadan and Oxford. However, we cannot achieve these goals alone. Your help is crucial to our success. We are deeply grateful for any donation you can provide, and ongoing support will be vital to ensuring the sustainability of our efforts.
Emeritus Professor Margaret Esiri
Founder, The Frederick Foundation.
