Rotary marks maternal, newborn child health week with free health services

Rotary International has joined forces with the Gombe State Government to mark the Maternal and Newborn Child Health Week, offering free health services to the community.

The outreach programme aims to reduce maternal and under-five morbidity and mortality rates, providing essential healthcare services to pregnant women, mothers, and children up to 59 months of age.

According to Rotarian, Dantata Mohammed Ndus, Gombe State Rotary Representative and Permanent Secretary of the Gombe State Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, “We are committed to supporting the Gombe State Government on family health matters.”

Ndus added that Rotary’s on-site health services would refer patients with more serious conditions to appropriate healthcare facilities.

The event, which kicked off this week, offers a range of services, including health education, antenatal care, hygiene, self-care, laboratory investigations, family planning, and adolescent services.

Ndus explained that Rotary International has also provided essential drugs, de-worming medications, B-complex vitamins, mosquito nets, and free testing for sugar levels, blood pressure, and weight.

One of the beneficiaries of the Rotary intervention, Mrs Fatima Umar Mohammed, praised Rotary’s efforts, saying, “I appreciate the intervention of Rotary, since when I was pregnant and even now after delivery.

Pregnant women and children are being provided with immunisation and drugs, and now again with mosquito-treated nets.”

The Gombe State Commissioner of Health, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Mohammed Jallo, stated that the week’s interventions aim to strengthen routine health services for pregnant women, mothers, and children.

Jallo noted that key beneficiaries include children aged six to 59 months, who will receive Vitamin A supplements and de-worming tablets.