Rotary commits fresh grant to tackle maternal, child deaths

The Rotary Foundation has provided additional grant to its ‘Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria’ initiative to help address the high maternal and infant mortality rates in the country. ‘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 […]

The Rotary Foundation has provided additional grant to its ‘Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria’ initiative to help address the high maternal and infant mortality rates in the country.

‘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 Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health.

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that this is in addition to the earlier $2 million awarded for the three-year project last year.

The grant is aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in targeted local government areas (LGAs) by 25 per cent.

The president of Rotary International, Gordon R. McInally, disclosed this Saturday in Abuja, while briefing journalists at a community health engagement in Kuchigoro.

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McInally said 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.

He said: “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’s a three years’ pilot project that is bearing good results already. Hopefully, it will qualify for further funding from many different sources.”

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that shortly before the event at Kuchigoro, McInally immunised some children against polio at the Primary Healthcare Clinic, Area 2.