…seeks partnership with state government
By Shadrach Okon
An internationally recognized Non Governmental Organization(NGO), Rotary Club International has unvieled a health initiative in Akwa Ibom State aimed at tackling the prevalence infant mortality in Akwa Ibom State, through community mobilization, enlightenment and responsibility.
The community health initiative titled: Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge is a three-year initiative sponsored by Rotary International and its implementing partner, PATH –operating in Nigeria as Organization for Innovation in Public Health(OIPH).
According to the Lead medical consultant from PATH, Dr. Dare Eguavon, the health initiative will focus on tackling the three leading causes of death among children under five in Nigeria: malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea.
Dr. Dare while speaking during the sensitization exercise in Ibesikpo L.G.A, explained that Akwa Ibom State was selected in the South, being a state with highest prevalence of malaria in the Southern Region of Nigeria.
He sought the cooperation of community leaders in the selected local government areas in Akwa Ibom State to enhance the smooth implementation of the health project.
Dr. Dare noted that some of these killer diseases can be averted by maintaining clean environment and taking clean drinking water.
The health project was unveiled last week when the RHCC Country Lead, Dr. Dele Balogun led a delegation of rotarians to Ibesikpo Local Government Primary Healthcare Base to sensitize community stakeholders on the upcoming community health outreach for pregnant woman, nursing mothers and children in Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking during the sensitization programme, Dr. Dele Balogun revealed that the health initiative is aimed at laying a foundation to teach every house hold in selected communities how to prevent malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea.
He added that the community health initiative will help the implementing partner to identify through the volunteers, infants testing positive to malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea who would be referred to the nearest Primary Healthcare Centre in each Ward for treatments while also generating health data to help the Federal Ministry of Health in future health planning.
The sensitization exercise climaxed with a courtesy visit to the Secretary of Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Enobong Attah to seek support from Akwa Ibom State government for effective implementation of the health project in the state.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Dare Eguavon described the agency as an umbrella health agency in Akwa Ibom State, that PATH must work with for successful execution of the project.
“Your agency is like a umbrella, we need you to lead us into the six local government areas in the state that going to carry out the exercise,” Dr. Dare Eguavon said.
Responding, Dr. Enobong Attah, said the agency was established to provide access to healthcare for the people. She assured Rotary Club and her implementing partner of the support of Akwa Ibom State government, noting that Governor Umo Eno, through the Arise Agenda is committed to the development of primary healthcare facilities in Akwa Ibom State.
