Members of the Rotary Club of Wuse Central in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday offered series of free medical services to residents of Dakwo community in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the medical outreach which took place at the Primary Health Centre, Dakwo, witnessed scores of pregnant women, nursing mothers and youths coming out to partake in the exercise.
NAN also reports that the residents were given mosquito treated nets, while each pregnant woman among them received a set of baby delivery kit.
President of the club, Kelong Alkali, said no fewer than 80 residents benefitted from the gesture which he described as synonymous to Rotary Club worldwide.
Alkali added that the gesture was part of the commemoration of Rotary Club’s maternal and child health month scheduled for July.
“This event is a key focus area in Rotary Club. As you may be aware, Rotary Club is an international organisation that carries out humanitarian services, projects friendship and conflict resolution too.
“Every month, we pick one critical area and work on. And in this month of July we are working on maternal and child birth. So today, we from the Rotary Club of Wuse Central are here to provide free medical services to the people of Dakwo community.
“Some of the items we are giving them freely are: mosquito nets, free routine drugs which include Folic Acid, iron tablets, Vitamin C and other vitamins for pregnant women and nursing mothers so that they can have safe delivery, because maternal death is a big issue in some of our rural communities,” he said.
Also, Oluwasola Ajadi, Director, Projects/ Community Services of the club, said the outreach was aimed at paying attention to the endless needs of the downtrodden especially in their healthcare requirements.
She said that the large turn-out of beneficiaries at the event gave her the fulfilment that she had touched lives.
Ajadi also attributed the high number of the beneficiaries to why additional provisions were later made in a bid to reach more residents.
“After seeing what has happened here today, especially the large turn-out; I really feel that I have been able to touch lives in conjunction with my colleagues.
“Rotary Club is about touching lives and I’m proud to be part of this noble cause.
” I’m so pleased to see how happy the beneficiaries are; especially the women among them. I can assure you that Rotary will want to do more.
“The interesting thing was that we had to increase our provisions after witnessing an increased number.
” In fact, this is a plus for everyone who made this happen, ranging from the community leaders, the health officials and Rotary Club itself,” she said.
Dr Dorothy Ihegazie, Programme Officer in Charge of Health Promotion in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), expressed appreciation to Rotary Club for the gesture, she added that it was not their first time of supporting the community.
Ihegazie who is also the Overseer of AMAC Primary Health Centres (PHCs), revealed that ante-natal mothers topped the list of beneficiaries of the outreach programme.
She, however, called on other well-to-do members of the public and organisations to emulate what Rotary Club is doing in terms of giving back to the society.
In separate interviews with NAN, two of the beneficiaries who are pregnant women expressed appreciation to the club.
They said its gesture would go a long way in reducing the economic impacts of their gestation period in view of the current economic situation in the country.
Florence Stephen, a 21-year old newly married woman said the items given to her would help her safe delivery in few weeks from now.
Also, Jemmy Joseph, 32, a housewife said it was her first time of being assisted by any organisation during pregnancy.
She therefore expressed hope that the health tips received at the event would help her during pregnancy and after childbirth, while the items and drugs would provide a succour for her household.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria