Sunrise Bulletin Vol 38 Issue 26 (Dec. 23, 2024)

The Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge, a three-year, US$30 million program to combat disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia, has officially launched. Rotary International is partnering with the Gates Foundation and World Vision to target pneumonia, malaria, and diarrheal diseases, which are among the leading causes of death for young children and other vulnerable populations in these countries.

“Our goal is to empower communities by strengthening their health systems, ensuring that every child has access to life-saving care,” says Larry Mapani, the program’s lead in Zambia and a member of the Rotary Club of Kitwe, Zambia. “This program not only addresses urgent health challenges but also lays the groundwork for a healthier future, where all children can thrive and reach their full potential.”

The Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge aims to reach an estimated 3.5 million people in 700,000 households. In addition to treating the targeted diseases, it will engage communities, raise awareness about the importance of treating disease early, and improve the collection and management of data. The latter are essential for accurate health reporting and informed decision making.

“This initiative marks a significant milestone in our shared fight against childhood health challenges,” says Marc Nosbach, World Vision’s national director for Zambia. “It demonstrates the power of united values and collective dedication when it comes to creating sustainable, lasting change for those most in need.”

Despite substantial declines over the last 20 years, malaria, lower respiratory infections, and diarrheal diseases remain among the leading causes of death for children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. These three diseases killed about a million children in the region in 2017 alone, according to a 2021 study.

The Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge uses an approach similar to that of Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia, the highly successful recipient of Rotary’s first Programs of Scale award, in 2021. Like that program, the Healthy Communities Challenge will collaborate with local partners to strengthen existing health systems. It will train, equip, and deploy thousands of community health workers to reach children where they live.

“Rotary is committed to improving health outcomes by empowering communities,” says Aloysius Dele Balogun, the program lead in Nigeria and a member of the Rotary Club of Agege, Lagos State, Nigeria. “Through this initiative, we are equipping our community health care workers with the tools and training necessary to deliver life-saving services right where they are needed the most.”

By training health workers and bolstering medical resources at the local level, the program is expected to yield benefits for each country far into the future.

“Community health workers are the heart of a resilient health system. Empowering them with the right tools and information can transform lives,” says Abigail Pratt, senior program officer at the Gates Foundation. “This next phase of our partnership with World Vision and Rotary International will help ensure these dedicated individuals have the resources they need to protect children and build healthier communities.”

Learn more about the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge.

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