Medical Outreach: Rotary Family Health Touches Lives Of the Less Privileged
… provides free medical services, mosquito nets
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria
Rotary Action Group for Family Health in continuation of its free medical services have put smiles on the faces of the less privileged.
The exercise which started last year into 2023 according to them is in three phases.
The District Coordinator for District 9125 Nigeria, Rotary Family Health Days’, (RFHD’s), Grace Sadiku disclosed this in an interview with Hajiya Zainab Tanimu of Newsreservoir during the exercise held at AP Smart College of Health Science and Technology, Kakuri.
Similar exercise were held at other locations in Kaduna.
Explaining, she said It comprises 23 states and FCT, in northern part and part of South-West.
“Today’s Health outreach is tagged ‘Rotary Family Health Days’. In this year, we are having it three times. The first one was in October, 2022, this is the second phase going on in February, 2023 and we are looking forward to June, where we will have the 3rd phase.
The essence of this programme is to ensure that the citizens know their health status. It is important for people to know their health status so that you will not be a living corpse in the world.
We encourage individuals to take advantage of this opportunity and go to our various sites all over the country, to check yourself, ascertain your healthiness and continue to live fine in the world.
This exercise is not government sponsored.
lt is sponsored by Rotary Action Group for Family Health and AIDS prevention with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with Rotary Clubs and Districts in Nigeria, Ministries of Health, private sector and NGOs.
Rotary is a voluntary organization
and every one is free to join the foundation.
What we do in rotary is to give service across states. We ensure that individuals lives are touched especially the less privileged because government cannot do it alone. Rotary goes all over. We have water and sanitation, We have maternal and health programme, we have literacy project and others. This is just one of them.
Kaduna State Coordinator, Family Health Days’ programme, Rotarian Juliet Azubike explains further. Three places she said were earmarked for the exercise. Already, two out of the three have been visited.
Their target she said is 10,000 persons and that the turnout was impressive. She added.
“The turnout l must say is impressive. We conduct various tests, BP test, HIV screening, we conduct prostrate screening for men and other tests.
We also have doctors on ground for consultation. lf we have any serious cases that we cannot handle, we refer them to the nearest general hospital.
For this particular exercise only two local government in Kaduna state is focused on . She explained.
“This time around, we are just covering two local governments. Kaduna North and Kaduna South. On the 2nd, we were at Zakari Isa public health care (PHC) center and on the 3rd, we were at the Badarawa health center. Today, here we are at the AP Smart’s college of health science and technology, Kakuri in Kaduna.
For the turnout, she said.
“The turnout is okay. Usually, as from one o’clock people start trooping in. The turnout is really very okay.
Before we use to have it annually but because people love the programme and were yearning for more, the Rotarians for Family Health AIDs prevention decided to hold this programme thrice a year.
Rotarian Juliet in her advice has called on the people to always ensure that they are not left out in health programmes like this because it is very beneficial.
“People should come out emmass to know their health status because once you know your health status through the test that will be provided, you will be able to take better care of yourself.
Apart from our major sponsors which includes, Keep Polio Zero, Hepatitis Zero, in Kaduna state we partner with the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Agency. She stated.
Mrs. Mercy Adebisi one of the beneficiaries of the exercise expressed happiness for the opportunity given by Rotary Family Health to the less privileged to stay healthy. She thanked them and their co – sponsors. She advised that people should always take opportunity of such open windows to help themselves.
“Honestly, this is my first time of being here and l am really impressed.The way they attended to us , it was fantastic and glorious.
I am encouraging people that anytime they call on us, we should try and attend because there are so many things that you will gain. There are different check-ups like that of hepatitis, they will check your sugar
level, HIV and malaria test, all free of charge. The doctors still will attend to you for other complains. Infact with the economic situation we are presently going through, l never taught that this kind of group will come out and be helping people. It is glorious. I pray that God will continue to upgrade them, in Jesus name.”
Another beneficiary, Hajiya Rakiya Ibrahim overwhelmed with the services provided as well as the distribution of mosquito nets prayed for the organization.
