The Rotary Action Group for Reproductive Maternal and Child Health has donated life-saving drugs and equipment worth N23 million to Oyo State under its ‘Little Steps, Big Help’ project to reduce deaths and ill health from malaria and malnutrition, particularly in pregnant women and under-five children at the grassroots.
Past Rotary district governor, Adeniji Raji, at the handing over of the items to the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, said the donation, was a significant step to deliver vital medical supplies and equipment to primary health centres as part of an effort to combat malaria and malnutrition in Oyo State.
Raji, represented by the projects’ coordinator, Past Rotary district governor, Yomi Adewunmi, said additionally to combat malnutrition, primary healthcare facilities are being supported with funds to conduct food demonstration classes to equip caregivers of children under five with the knowledge and skills to prepare nutritious meals.
He stated that the ‘Little Steps, Big Help’ project which started in November last year took place in 27 local governments across Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun States, and 15 out of these LGAs are in Oyo State.
According to him, ‘The project is an upscale of a formal one between 2019 and 2021 that was primarily designed to reduce morbidity and mortality in pregnant mothers during child delivery.
“During the two-year programme, we discovered that malaria and malnutrition were very important elements in causing the death of mothers during pregnancy.
“So, this current project, a three-year programme that covers three states is tackling malaria and nutrition in pregnant mothers and under-five children in those local governments where there is a high prevalence of malaria and malnutrition.”
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He said that over the past year, part of the projects’ achievement includes 246 health workers who received specialized training on malaria and malnutrition prevention, diagnosis and management to enhance their capacity to provide quality care, ultimately saving lives.
In addition, he said through community outreaches, 5250 pregnant women and caregivers of children under five received vital health education on malaria and malnutrition prevention, and 5250 insecticide-treated nets were distributed to vulnerable families to malaria
Also, 1858 individuals were screened for malaria, with 376 positive cases promptly treated; and 969 children were screened for malnutrition, leading to 112 malnourished children being enrolled for follow-up care and management.
According to him, “These accomplishments reflect our unwavering commitment to building healthier communities. However, our work is far from over. Malaria and malnutrition continue to pose significant public health challenges and we must sustain our collective efforts to ensure that no mother, child or family suffers needlessly.”
The Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji, while commending Rotary International’s intervention in tackling malaria and malnutrition, said it was timely when support seems to be dwindling, particularly from the United States of America, for malaria and other health conditions.
According to him, “the state is working towards achieving the 15% minimum recommendation for health budgeting in the country. Additional support will take us to that point which is our target. I assure you that these materials will be put to good use.”
