Welcome to SIDS Awareness for Africa
Many more babies die of (SIDS) Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (all over the world) in a year than all who
die of cancer, heart disease, pnuemonia, child abuse, Cystic Fibrosis and Muscular
Distrophy combined.
The idea to establish SIDS Awareness for Africa arose as a result of personal loss and experiences
of some founding members, and this leas to the realization that this disease may have caused
untold hardship to many families in Africa directly or indirectly.
In most parts of Africa, such deaths are usually attributed to witches, wizards and evil spirits or
a kind of reincarnation by the child to torment the parents. In Africa, it is called different
names. For example, in Nigeria the Yorubas call it Abiku, while the Igbos call it Ogbanje, etc.
Most SIDS cases are not reported to the police and health institutions and most parents do not
understand the importance of post mortem investigations. There is therefore no reliable documented
data on SIDS in Nigeria and most other African countries presently.
Mission Statement
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness for Africa is dedicated to raise awareness of
SIDS in Africa and dispel the myths that the death of these babies us as a result of
some sort of curse on the mother or the babies themselves or that the babies decide
to come repeatedly back to this world to torment their parents (Abiku). We provide
support, professional counseling and other services to bereaving family.
Vision
The SIDS Awareness for Africa, established in 2002, aims at uniting families, care givers,
health professionals and scientists with government, corporate bodies, business and community
service groups, in both nationwide and international efforts to advance infant safety and
survival, support bereaved families and promote infant health. Our ultimate goal is to ensure
that every African child enjoys the promise of life. This organization strives to achieve
this mission through aggressive, comphrehensive and extensive programs of research, clinical
services, education and family support.
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