Rotary Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to improving maternal and child health through the Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria programme.
Chair of Rotary Foundation, Holger Knaack, described the programme as one of its most impactful initiatives in Africa.
He spoke after a session with Rotary action group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (Rotary-RMCH) regarding the “Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria” programmes of scale in Abuja.
Knaack, accompanied by his wife, Suzanne, lauded the progress recorded with the programme, which has reduced maternal and child deaths in communities.
“What we are seeing is the result of more than 25 years of work and collaboration among Rotarians, Rotary Foundation, volunteers, and government health officials,” he said.
“Together, we have achieved a reduction in maternal and child mortality. That is the true impact of partnership,” he said.
He explained that Rotary’s approach is to focus on large-scale, measurable projects.
“Our goal is always impact. It’s not just about doing good, but about doing the right thing and being able to measure it. Bigger projects have greater, measurable results,” he said.
The project, he noted, is a $2 million initiative that has more support and collaboration.
“Through partnerships with other countries, such as Germany, we have raised about $2.8 million, bringing the investment to nearly $5 million.
“We are also proud that the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation has pledged another $5 million in the next few years to sustain this success,” he said.
Trustee of Rotary Foundation, Ijeoma Okoro, described it as a milestone for Nigeria, being the second Programme of Scale approved by Rotary Foundation globally.
“I’m happy it came to Nigeria, and that we hit the ground running. We’re already recording success in maternal and child care,” she said.
“Most importantly, it has attracted a scaling partner, which will help us expand beyond the initial four pilot locations.
“The next phase has been mapped out, and we’ll extend to other states,” Okoro added.
National Coordinator/Country Director of the programme, Prof. Adedolapo Lufadeju, in his presentation, said the Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria programme of Scale (PoS) is an initiative through which Rotarians show their commitment to improving maternal and infant health by providing mothers and newborns with targeted healthcare.
He said the programme has helped in “improving the systemic access to life-saving services which will impact not just mothers but also the wider community by reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in Nigeria, hence the theme.”
“The overall objective of the programme is to scale down maternal and neonatal mortality by 25 per cent,” he added.
He said the programme began in four locations in November, 2022, listing them as FCT (Abuja Municipal Area Council), Nasarawa (Akwanga and Lafia councils), Gombe (Gombe and Yamaltu Deba councils), and Ekiti State (Ado-Ekiti and Ijero council), totalling 49 facilities.
“Owing to success recorded, as at July, the programme has expanded to 103 facilities in four locations,” he said.
