Some 23 million Nigerian children have received the seasonal malaria chemoprevention, aiding reduction in severe malaria in children in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari made the declaration on Friday in Kigali at the Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

The summit is part of activities at the on-going 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the Rwandan capital.

President Buhari was represented by the Minister of Health, Mr Osagie Ehanire, who delivered a speech on his behalf.

The Nigerian leader told the summit that in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria delivered on commitments made at the London CHOGM malaria summit in 2018.

He tasked Commonwealth leaders to renew commitment toward eliminating the disease while assuring best efforts by his government to mobilise domestic resources in the fight against NTDs and malaria.

He announced that Nigeria had secured 300 million dollars from the World Bank and from the Islamic Development Bank to cover essential malaria programmes and strengthen Primary Healthcare.

The president added that fatalities caused by malaria in parts of Africa mostly affect children and pregnant women, and urged low-income countries to join forces together to end the challenge.

The summit, hosted by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, featured commitments totalling more than four billion dollars including funding from governments, international organisations, philanthropists, and private sector support.

Pharmaceutical companies also donated 18 billion tablets for preventing and treating NTDs

The World Bank has approved 178.1 million U.S. dollar loan on Thursday to support the Philippines’ efforts in addressing malnutrition.

The Washington-based bank said it will support the delivery of nutrition and health care services at the primary care and community levels to help reduce stunting that is characterised by prolonged nutritional deficiency among infants and young children.

Ndiame Diop, the World Bank Country Director said improving the nutritional status of children is key to the Southeast Asian country’s goals of boosting human capital while strengthening the economic recovery and prospects for long-term growth.

Globally, food prices, already on the rise since the second half of 2020, have reached a record high this year, leading to food security problems worldwide.

Unless immediate action is taken, millions of children “will face the increased risk of undernutrition,” the bank warned.

The Minister of state in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has inaugurated a Primary Health Care facility donated by the Rotary Club of Abuja, Karu Housing Estate.

Speaking at the official Inuguration and Handover of the facility at the Healthcare Centre, Jikwoyi, Aliyu expressed optimism that the gesture would help boost the quality of healthcare available to residents of the area.

The minister also said that the donation marks the successes recorded in community partnership and participation as well as the collective efforts at strengthening the Primary Health Care scheme in the FCT.

“The fact that Rotary Club constructed and completed this Primary Healthcare facility to support healthcare delivery system in the territory is not a surprise to most of us because of your antecedents at the Rotary Foundation.

“Rotary Club is no doubt an upright Non- Governmental Organization and one that stays true to an unwavering commitment to saving lives.

“FCT has benefitted immensely from your wealth of experience, passion and focused contributions to eradicating the wild polio virus globally and strengthening Routine Immunization programme. Our partnership with you, among others, has seen FCT being wild polio free for over 7 years as the last case was confirmed in the first quarter of 2013.

“You have strengthened our PHC facilities structures and system at Dutsen Garki, Piwoyi, Sauka amongst others,” she added.

Aliyu who emphasised that health is a fundamental human right, added that this would however require the Primary Health Care approach which allows for integrated care comprising preventive, promote, curative and rehabilitative services extending from “womb to tomb.”

She said, “The first point of contact with the National Health System and a key to socio economic development and progress of a country. It includes essential health care, universally accessible, acceptable, affordable, adaptable, appropriate, and active community participation.

“As a matter of fact, Universal Health Coverage cannot be achieved without the involvement of the local community. II sincerely and respectfully commend Rotary Club of Abuja, Karu Housing Estate for deepening community engagement for Primary Health Care management in the FCT.”

The minister while commending the Rotary Club of Abuja, Karu Housing Estate for the gesture, assured that the FCT Administration, through its Primary Health Care Board, would take charge of the facility by providing the necessary manpower needed so as to improve the quality of care for residents of the area especially women and children.

She, therefore, urged the personnel in the facility to observe Standard Operating Procedures in taking care of clients, even as she assured that the Administration would continue to strengthen the existing healthcare facilities across the six area councils to meet the high demand of its residents.

The President of Rotary Club of Abuja, Karu Housing Estate, Rtn. Vurinrin Anita Ifidon, revealed that the club had over six years ago carried out several projects within Rotary’s seven core areas of focus which include disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy amongst others.

She also stated that the initial foundation of the Primary Healthcare was laid in the 80s but was abandoned during late President Shehu Shagari’s regime, stressing that through determination and focus, the club brought it to fruition.

Ifidon, however, appealed to FCT Administration and other critical stakeholders to support community projects, noting that community needs are overwhelming.

According to her, “Apart from primary healthcare, the people of Jikwoyi are in dire need of portable water. We will like to seek partnership with your office in our humble quest and desire to give our communities a phase lift.”

Recall that the Primary Healthcare Centre has been equipped with hospital beds, bed drawers, examination couch, dressing materials, forcept kits, trolley, auto clave machine, refrigerator, microscope, amongst other equipment.