Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge committed to reducing child mortality rates in Akwa Ibom
By Itoro Bassey
Health sector stakeholders, on Wednesday, gathered in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for a consensus meeting and baseline assessment as part of the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge (RHCC) project, which aims to enhance healthcare access for children under the age of five years.
The initiative, co-funded by the Rotary International Foundation and the Bill Gates Foundation, targets the prevention of malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea—three of the leading causes of death among children under five in Nigeria.
Speaking at the occasion, Mr Chinedu Eqwuonwu, Team Lead of the PATH Group , the implementing Partner of the RHCC Programme explained that the programme, which has already been implemented in various African nations, is in line with Nigeria’s Community Health Influencers, Promoters, and Services (CHIPS) initiative under the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA).
Eqwuonwu said: “We’re not initiating anything new; rather, we’re assisting Akwa Ibom State in enhancing access to primary healthcare, particularly for underserved children in rural areas.
“The initiative, which operates in six local government areas of Akwa Ibom, trains health workers nominated by the community to diagnose and treat childhood illnesses, thereby minimizing the necessity for lengthy hospital trips.
“If a child exhibits warning signs, these workers help facilitate referrals to primary or secondary healthcare facilities”.
Also speaking, Rotarian Adeyemi Oladokun, a Past Rotary District Governor and the Representative of the Country Lead for RHCC, emphasised the need for enhanced collaboration and commended the state government for its focus on child health.
“Rotary is dedicated to advocacy and strategic planning to ensure the success of this project. Our goal is to reduce the number of children under five who die from preventable diseases,” he remarked.
Earlier in his address, Dr. Martin Akpan, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, commended Governor Umo Eno for his dedication to healthcare advancement.
Akpan highlighted the recent inauguration of a state-of-the-art health center in Ikot Ekwere in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area and the establishment of the state’s oxygen plant as significant achievements.
“With the Governor’s commitment, Akwa Ibom is at the forefront of primary healthcare,” he stated.
Akpan expressed gratitude to Rotary International for selecting the state for this important intervention.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Eno Attah, expressed her appreciation to Rotary for its ongoing generous support for disease control and prevention. She promised that the state would partner with Rotary to reduce the mortality rate of these childhood killer diseases.
Goodwill messages were also presented by Dr. Abubakar Ahmed, the representative of the National Malaria Eradication Programme, and Dr. Ukpong, the Zonal Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
Past District Governor Akan Emah, a member of the RHCC, was among the Rotarians present at the event.
Photos of the event
