By Blessing Bature
Rotary International District 9127 has intensified efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the launch of a maternal and child health project at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Sheretti, Kabusa, where pregnant women received birth kits, health education, and support for safe delivery.
The initiative, implemented by Rotary District 9127 in partnership with the Rotary Club of Abuja (The Grandfather), aims to improve access to quality maternal healthcare, promote antenatal care attendance, and increase child immunisation.
Speaking at the inauguration, the District Chair for Maternal and Child Health and Zonal Coordinator, Zone 1, District 9127, Dr. Samuel Usman said the intervention was designed to help expectant mothers survive pregnancy and childbirth while ensuring newborns receive the care they need for a healthy start in life.
According to him, the project includes the distribution of birth kits, sensitisation on antenatal care, promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, and awareness of routine childhood immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, yellow fever, and whooping cough. He also highlighted the importance of cervical cancer awareness.
“Our mission is to reduce maternal mortality by ensuring women have the support they need for safe deliveries. We are also working to reduce infant mortality because when a mother survives childbirth, the baby has a better chance of surviving and thriving,” Dr. Usman said.
Dr. Usman noted that Rotary had supported the Kabusa health facility over the years but decided to strengthen its intervention after identifying critical gaps in maternal and child healthcare services.
He revealed that within three days, the health centre had recorded five deliveries despite lacking adequate birth kits, underscoring the urgent need for support.
“This project marks the beginning of a new chapter. We discovered that the facility needed essential delivery materials, and we stepped in because every safe birth counts. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and this is our first step towards reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths,” he said.
The medical doctor stressed that ignorance remains one of the leading contributors to maternal deaths, urging pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics where health workers can detect complications early.
The District Governor of Rotary International District 9127 for the 2026/2027 Rotary year, Rotarian Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko, reaffirmed Rotary’s commitment to improving maternal and child health, describing it as one of the organisation’s core areas of focus.
Owonikoko said the initiative underscored Rotary’s dedication to ensuring safe motherhood and healthy childhood through community-based interventions.
He commended the Rotary Club of Abuja for organising the programme under the leadership of its president, with the support of the District Chair for Maternal and Child Health, Rotarian Dr. Samuel Usman.
According to him, the outreach aligns with Rotary’s mission of supporting vulnerable communities through impactful humanitarian projects.
“This event is significant because it falls under one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus—maternal and child health. We are committed to the wellbeing of mothers and children and will continue to support initiatives that improve their lives,” he said.
