By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
Rotary International, in partnership with the Gombe State Government through the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, has provided free healthcare services to over 1,500 residents in rural communities across the state.
The outreach, conducted from March 16 to 19, covered London Mai Dorawa in Gombe LGA; Kalorgu, Shamaki Ward and Ture Balam in Kaltungo LGA; and Liji, Gidin Waziri, and Ngare communities in Yamaltu/Deba LGA.
The intervention is part of efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality under the “Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria” project, currently being implemented in Gombe, Ekiti, Nasarawa and the FCT.
The programme is coordinated nationally by Prof. Emmanuel A. Lufadeju.
Community leaders in the benefiting areas commended the initiative.
The District Head of London Mai Dorawa, Mallam Adamu Ishiyaku Garba, described the outreach as timely, noting that it brought essential services closer to the people.
Similarly, the District Head of Liji, Mallam Umar Abdullahi, appreciated Rotary for offering free medical care to residents.
A total of 48 healthcare workers drawn from the three LGAs participated in the exercise.
They included nurses, midwives, community health officers, laboratory and pharmacy technicians, as well as social mobilisation teams.
Other stakeholders involved were Ward Development Committees, reproductive health coordinators, and members of the Rotary Club of Kaltungo.
Beneficiaries included children, women of childbearing age and elderly persons, who accessed various medical services during the outreach.
Speaking, Rotary’s representative in Gombe, Mohammed Dantata Ndus, commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for prioritising healthcare delivery in the state.
He also lauded the Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, for supporting collaboration with development partners.
Residents of the communities expressed gratitude for the intervention, urging sustained efforts to improve access to healthcare at the grassroots.
