Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through strategic partnerships with Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation.
Eno stated this on Tuesday when he received a delegation from Rotary International, led by the Chairman of the Rotary Foundation, Mr. Holger Knaack, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Uyo.
The governor expressed appreciation to the Rotary Foundation for selecting Akwa Ibom as a pilot state for its Healthy Communities Challenge initiative.
He said the programme aligns with his administration’s healthcare priorities, which focus on child survival and maternal health.
“We are ready to partner with Rotary on health initiatives that will improve the well-being of our people,” Eno said.
“Our interventions are designed to strengthen the healthcare delivery system across the state. We have built and renovated primary healthcare centres in all 31 local government areas to ensure access to quality healthcare.”
He added that the state recently awarded its largest healthcare contract — the construction of an International Medical Centre — aimed at redefining medical tourism in the region.
Earlier, the Country Lead of the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge, Mr. Dele Balogun, said the team was in Akwa Ibom to support the state’s healthcare programmes and help reduce child mortality caused by preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, and malaria.
He explained that the organisation had trained volunteers to conduct house-to-house sensitisation and provide free testing and treatment for common childhood illnesses.
Balogun noted that Akwa Ibom was selected for the programme by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), with sponsorship from the Rotary Foundation.
He also expressed appreciation to all partnering organisations for their continued support.
In his remarks, Mr. Holger Knaack, Chairman of the Rotary Foundation, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s healthcare goals and sustaining the global fight against polio.
