By Blessing Otobong-Gabriel
Rotary Club of Abuja Ministers Hill, led by its President, Engr Adams Oyarekhua, on Thursday, launched a service project in Tatagiya community, focusing on maternal and child health.
The aim waa to alleviate the plight of vulnerable women in the community by providing essential healthcare resources.
Rotarian Adams said during the event, the club distributed delivery kits to pregnant women and mosquito nets to breastfeeding mothers, saying the initial target was to give out 70 kits, but the club ended up distributing almost 100, exceeding their expectations.
According to him, the delivery kits include essential items such as clamps, mucous extractors and phenolic acid, which are often required by hospitals before delivery.
He stated that earlier, “it conducted a needs assessment in the community, which informed the project’s design. The community’s chief welcomed the initiative and played a crucial role in facilitating the assessment. Rotary plans to execute more projects in the community, focusing on the seven areas of focus of Rotary International.
“This is expected to have a significant impact on the community, particularly in reducing the cost of delivery and promoting healthy practices among pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Our club has outlined projects for the year, aiming to transform Tatagiya community through dedicated service and community engagement”.
The Chairman, Rotary Club of Abuja Ministers Hill Foundation, Dr Samuel Usman, said the rate of maternal mortality is alarmingly high. Women often die from preventable causes such as malaria, bleeding and other pregnancy-related complications. Many breastfeeding mothers also lack knowledge on proper childcare and nutrition.
Usman emphasized the importance of community-based health insurance schemes to make healthcare accessible to all, regardless of financial status.
He urged government to provide seed support to traditional leaders, who could then distribute stipends to community members.
He highlighted the need for improved infrastructure, such as roads, to facilitate access to healthcare facilities and the need for sustained efforts to improve healthcare in Nigeria, particularly in rural communities.
According to him, by working together, governments, organisations and individuals can make meaningful impact in reducing maternal mortality and promoting healthy families.
The District Chair for Medical Missions, Rotary District 9127, Dr Patrick Eze emphasized the importance of the sensitisation, highlighting that malaria is a major killer of women in pregnancy and a cause of intrauterine deaths.
He said the club is making efforts to reduce maternal mortality and promote healthy practices among women in the community.
Rotary Club of Abuja Ministers Hill also embarked on a project to renovate primary healthcare centers in the district, ensuring that women have access to functional healthcare facilities for safe delivery. This complements the distribution of delivery kits and mosquito nets, providing a comprehensive approach to maternal and child health.
Chief of Tatagiya Village, Solomon Danjoma expressed gratitude to Rotary Club for their timely intervention in the community.
He noted that it has been a while since the community received visits from government agencies or NGOs, making the club’s effort particularly noteworthy.
The chief appreciated its commitment to improve the health and well-being of women and children, and acknowledged the positive impact of their initiative.
