The Akwa Ibom State Government has pledged a stronger commitment to eradicating maternal and infant killer diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria, and pneumonia that continue to threaten children under five.
Governor Umo Eno made this known on Thursday while receiving a delegation from Rotary International (RI), led by the Trustee Chairman of the Rotary Foundation, Holger Knaack, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Uyo.
The governor, a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club, commended Rotary International for choosing Akwa Ibom as a pilot state for the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge (RHCC). He described the initiative as a timely partnership that aligns perfectly with his administration’s ARISE Agenda and healthcare reform drive.
Governor Eno reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery through collaborations with global development partners. He noted that the state had renovated and constructed primary healthcare centres across all 31 local government areas to ensure access to quality medical services.
“In Akwa Ibom, we are determined to strengthen our healthcare system. Beyond the ongoing rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres, we recently awarded the state’s largest single health-related contract, the construction of an International Medical Centre (IMC), to redefine medical tourism in this region,” he said.
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The Country Lead of the RHCC, Dele Balogun, stated that the Rotary team was in the state to support health programmes aimed at reducing child death from preventable diseases. He disclosed that trained volunteers would carry out house-to-house sensitisation campaigns and provide free testing and treatment for common childhood ailments.
He added that the initiative was endorsed by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and funded by the Rotary Foundation.
Reaffirming Rotary’s commitment, the Foundation’s Trustee Chairman, Holger Knaack, expressed optimism that the partnership would significantly advance Nigeria’s health goals and sustain the global fight against polio.
Governor Eno thanked Rotary International for its support and assured that his administration would continue to work closely with the organisation to promote child and maternal health across Akwa Ibom State.
