Rotary partners NOA to combat child killer diseases in A’Ibom

The Rotary Health Community Challenge has said that it has collaborated with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to tackle malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea, leading causes of death among children under five years old in Nigeria.

Country Lead for Rotary Health Community Challenge, Dr Dele Balogun, said this on Monday when he paid a courtesy visit to the state Director of NOA, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Balogun said the partnership was based on NOA’s widespread structure, intellectual competency of its manpower and the ability to equip communities with essential knowledge to promote health-seeking behaviours among families.

He said NOA has the capacity to mobilise local communities to play active roles in health initiatives for sustainable impact.

He said Rotary was partnering NOA to mobilise and sensitise community members to take advantage of the initiative targeted at eradicating the three leading causes of death among children under the age of five in Nigeria.

Balogun said that the sensitisation was to significantly reduce child mortality and illness through a multi-faceted approach of house-to-house service delivery model to ensure that healthcare reaches every child in need.

“The Rotary Health Community Challenge project will focus on six local government areas of Eket,  Ibesikpo Asutan, Ikono, Oruk Anam, Onna and Nsit Ibom in Akwa Ibom for phase one,” he said.

In his remarks, Akwa Ibom NOA Director, Mkpoutom, commended Rotary for its efforts in reducing the mortality rate of women and children.

He called on residents, the media and community leaders to encourage the life-saving mission by actively participating in the ongoing health education and outreach.

“Together, we can improve child health outcomes and build a healthier, brighter future for Nigeria,” he said.

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