by Nurat Uthman
In an initiative to combat the leading causes of childhood mortality, Rotary has unveiled a $30 million programme aimed at strengthening health systems and tackling malaria, pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases in four African countries.
Dubbed the ‘Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge,’ the three-year effort will see Rotary, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and World Vision collectively contribute funds to large-scale, high-impact programming in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia.
“Rotary is committed to strengthening health systems and combating diseases by empowering communities to use locally driven solutions that work,” said Rotary International President Gordon McInally.
“Together, with the Gates Foundation and World Vision, we will invest in proven methods to help communities provide a healthier and more hopeful future in which everyone will have the opportunity to thrive,” he added.
The programme will focus on increasing the capacity of community health workers and ensuring the sustainability of interventions, drawing on the success of a previous Rotary-led initiative in Zambia.
“Investing in community health workers is one of the best things we can do to bolster the fight against malaria and other preventable diseases,” stated Philip Welkhoff, Director of Malaria at the Gates Foundation.
“We are proud to build on our partnership with Rotary and World Vision and are confident this new initiative will help ensure that children in these four countries have the opportunity to grow up healthy and reach their full potential,” he added.
According to the statement, the four countries were selected based on factors such as disease burden, Rotary member engagement, partnership potential, and alignment with national health strategies. Local Rotary members have worked with partners and ministries to develop implementation plans tailored to each country’s priorities.
“It’s an honour to collaborate with the Rotary Foundation and the Gates Foundation to tackle these top killers of children,” said World Vision president and CEO, Edgar Sandoval Sr.
“When partners join together, we can have a greater impact on helping the most vulnerable reach their full God-given potential,” he added.
The announcement comes as malaria, pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases continue to be major contributors to child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, despite progress made in recent years.
“Rotary members throughout the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, help mothers and children, grow local economies, and protect the environment.
“Over the last 100 years, US $5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service,” the statement added.
