‘To reduce mortality rate’ — Rotary president seeks nationwide expansion of maternal health project

Gordon Mclnally, president of Rotary International, has recommended the expansion of the organisation’s maternal and child advancement project to all Nigerian states.

Speaking on Saturday during a community dialogue held at the Kuchingoro Primary School in Abuja, Mclnally described the project as “wonderful”, saying its impact should be felt across the country.

The Rotary International president said the project would improve the lives of families in Nigeria, which would in turn give women access to reproductive advice and access to contraception.

He said it would also encourage pregnant women to take good care of themselves during their pregnancy and at the point of delivery.

“Because as we know, many women continue to have babies at home, and that is where the mortality is highest,” Mclnally said.

“If these ladies can have their babies and deliver their babies safely in a clinic environment, then the chances of them suffering the ultimate of losing their life, suffering in the delivery, and the possibility of the babies being delivered stillborn or losing their lives in an early stage is very much reduced.”

The organisation’s president said the project is currently operating in six of the 36 Nigerian states, but with appropriate funding, could be rolled out to all states including the federal capital territory (FCT).

He said that way, the country could see a huge difference in the mortality rate among delivering mothers and neonatal babies.

“At this stage, Rotary has committed $2m to the project, and there has been a further close to a million US dollars being committed within Nigeria itself,” Mclnally said.

“It’s a three-year project at present, a pilot project that is bearing good results already and will prove itself and then hopefully will qualify for further funding from many different sources.

“We are encouraging partners to recognise the success of this project and come on board with us because we can’t do this alone.

“We need to do this with partners and I’m sure there are many partners who would want to be part of this and ensure that this is a successful project.”