"Child Health in Focus: Rotary Club International Partners NOA in Kebbi"

By Umar Faruk, Birnin Kebbi 

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kebbi State has announced a partnership with the Rotary Club International to improve child health outcomes in the state. According to Larai Saminu Nazo, Assistant Director/Head Media and Communication of the NOA, the partnership aims to establish a Rotary Club presence in Kebbi State, raise public awareness about Rotaract clubs, and educate communities on the importance of child health.

"The partnership aims to establish a Rotary Club presence in Kebbi State, raise public awareness about Rotaract clubs, and educate communities on the importance of child health," Nazo said.

The Country Director of Rotary Club International, Dr. Dele Balogun, led a team to the NOA in Kebbi State to formalize the partnership. Dr. Balogun emphasized Rotary's global reputation for community service and highlighted the NOA as a crucial partner for reaching the wider public and disseminating the club's goals.

"We are excited to partner with the National Orientation Agency to improve child health outcomes in Kebbi State," Dr. Balogun said. "Our goal is to prevent child mortality from preventable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea. We will achieve this by training volunteers to conduct house-to-house visits, identify sick children, and administer necessary treatments."

The project will initially focus on six Local Government Areas in Kebbi State and will run for three years. A thorough evaluation will be conducted at the end of the project to assess its impact and effectiveness.

The State Director of NOA, Mallam Nasir Muhammed Karofi, expressed his gratitude to the Rotary Club International team for recognizing the NOA as a key stakeholder in disseminating vital information to the grassroots. "This partnership presents a significant opportunity for the Agency to fulfill its mandate of public enlightenment and mobilization," he said.

Mallam Karofi highlighted the Agency's robust structure for information dissemination, including its network of 21 Community Orientation and Mobilization Officers (COMOs) strategically positioned across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state. "Our COMOs are tasked with orienting, educating, and sensitizing the local population on crucial information in their respective mother tongues, ensuring better comprehension and engagement," he said.

The partnership between Rotary Club International and the National Orientation Agency in Kebbi State holds immense promise for improving the health and well-being of children in the state, demonstrating a strong commitment to community development and disease prevention.