Rotary Int’l Expands Grant For Nigeria To Combat Maternal, Infant Mortality

The Rotary International said it has provided additional grant to its ‘Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria’ initiative to address the challenges of high maternal and infant mortality rates in the country.

The ‘Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria’ project was initiated by Nigerian and German Rotary members and the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria.

LEADERSHIP had reported that the grant is an addition to the earlier $2 million awarded for the three-year project last year.

The President of Rotary International, Gordon R. McInally, who made this known in Abuja, while briefing journalists at a community health engagement in Kuchingoro community, said the grant is aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in targeted local government areas by 25 per cent.

McInally who before the community engagement in Kuchingoro, immunized some children against polio at the Primary Healthcare Clinic, Area 2, said that the project, which is operational in six of the 36 states in Nigeria, would be expanded to other states and the FCT, with appropriate funding.

“At this stage, Rotary has committed $2 million to the project and there has been another further close to a million dollars being committed within Nigeria. It is a three years pilot project that is bearing good results already. Hopefully, it will qualify for further funding from many different sources.

“I encourage everybody to look at this project, which at the moment is operating in six out of the 36 states in Nigeria. With appropriate funding, I am convinced it could be rolled out to all states and the FCT. That way, maternal and neonatal mortality rate would be reduced.

“We are encouraging partners to recognise the success of this project and come onboard with us, because we cannot do this alone. We need to do this with partners and I am sure there are many partners who would want to be part of this and ensure this is a successful project,” he said.

The National Coordinator, Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH), Professor Dolapo Lufadeju, noted that “when a pregnant mother delivers at home, the chances of maternal death is very high.”

Prof Lufadeju disclosed that 70 per cent of maternal death in Nigeria happens, while advising mothers to always go to the hospitals for deliveries.

District Head of Kuchingoro, Umar Maikasuwa, while speaking during community health engagement said restated that “health is wealth,” and commended the Rotary International, its president and team for their visit to the community.