3 hours ago
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The Rotary Club of Garki, in partnership with the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), Society for Family Health, and Aleyita Health Center, has offered free medical outreach to more than 200 residents of the Aleyita community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The president of the club, Dr. Rotarian Joachim Ezeji, KSM, said the gesture was to reduce child and maternal mortality rates in the community.
Ezeji stated that the project, which was in commemoration of Rotary Family Health Day, is aimed at sensitising pregnant women with some basic health tips.
The president further said that the initiative was to help less-privileged expectant mothers deliver their babies safely.
According to him, the choice of the community is deliberate, as it is populated by low income earners, who are in dire need of basic healthcare.
“The free medical outreach will provide essential health checks, including malaria screening, blood pressure tests, HIV screening, deworming for children and Eye examinations and so many other tests for the pregnant women present hear”, Ezeji stated.
He further said the programme is an annual event to give back to the society.
In his words, “when the people are healthy, the nation is healthy.
“In Rotary Club Garki, peoples healthcare is our cardinal area of focus. It is our top most priority. We are passionate about peoples welfare”.
Chairman of the Rotary Family Health Days Committee, Julius Akwashiki said target beneficiaries include unregistered pregnant women and their husbands, breastfeeding mothers with babies under 9 months and children aged 1-5 years.
He explained that the aim of the outreach is to improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in underdeveloped areas in the FCT
“Nigeria has one of the highest rate of maternal and child mortality rates in Africa, with many of the victims residing in rural communities with no access to healthcare”, said Akwashiki.
A beneficiary, Mrs. Halima Dauda commended the organization for the initiative , promising to use the drugs given to them.
She noted that the women have been exposed to more health tips that will help them during this period of pregnancy.
