From Abubakar Rabilu Gombe
Gombe State Government, in collaboration with Rotary International, has launched a joint medical outreach to reduce maternal and child deaths across the state.
The exercise, which covered Gombe, Kaltungo and Yamaltu-Deba LGAs, was flagged off by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, alongside the National Coordinator of Rotary Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health in Nigeria, Prof. Emmanuel Adedolapo Lufadeju.
The outreach provided medical consultations, treatment and sensitisation in communities such as Yelenguruza and Kagarawal.
Prof. Lufadeju disclosed that more than 120 people were attended to in Kagarawal alone, with over 70 percent testing positive for malaria.
He said Rotary has been carrying out such interventions since 2013, noting that the Gombe initiative was innovative as two communities were reached simultaneously.
“Maternal and child deaths have dropped significantly in areas where we work, with more women seeking antenatal and postnatal care,” he added.
Dr. Dahiru commended Rotary for the partnership and urged residents to take advantage of the state’s revitalised health facilities.
He advised pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics and parents to immunise their children to prevent avoidable deaths.
Some beneficiaries at Kagarawal expressed appreciation to the government and its partners for bringing healthcare closer to their doorsteps.