Argungu Emir Backs Rotary’s Anti-Malaria Efforts in Kebbi

The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Sama’ila-Mera, has pledged total commitment to supporting the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge (RHCC) to combat malaria and other communicable diseases in Kebbi.
The emir made the promise on Monday while hosting the delegates of RHCC led by its Country Lead, Dr Dele Balogun at his Palace in Argungu, Kebbi.
The RHCC project is a three-year $30 million project, implemented by Rotary International and PATH.
The project targets the top three killer diseases of children under five in Nigeria: Malaria, Pneumonia, and Diarrhea.
RHCC is into partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Kebbi and Akwa Ibom State Governments as well as local communities.
Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Sama’ila-Mera (M) with RHCC delegation during a courtesy visit on him at his palace in Argungu
Addressing the entourage, the traditional ruler observed that rainy season was usually accompanied by resurgence of mosquitoes which remained agents of malaria fever and other related diseases.
He, however, stated that with the intervention of RHCC the three top killer diseases would be effectively put under control.
While appreciating the organisation for choosing Kebbi as one the only two project’s benefiting states in Nigeria, the emir also lauded it for selecting his domain to be part of the programme.
“I want to assure you of our maximum support any day, anytime, we shall support your initiative to ensure that our communities get the needed medical aid to get better,” he said.
Muhammad-Mera said he had held a meeting with Imam and community leaders on the need to pay good attention to the interaction with the RHCC team.
This, he said, was with a view to cascading correct information to their people, adding: “I also directed them to report back to me any resistance.”

Addressing Journalists shortly after the engagement with the emir and community leaders, the country lead expressed satisfaction with the community members for according the engagement a special priority by turning out in large numbers despite heavy rains.
According to Balogun, the engagement trained participants on how to handle diseases like malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia.
“We shall be going from one village to other in the six local government areas selected by the organisation to checkmate these diseases,” he said.
In his remarks, the District Head of Gulma, Alhaji Muhammad Bashar-Gulma, who is also a focal person on primary healthcare in Argungu Emirate, urged the community leaders to take the campaign seriously to curb the scourge of the killer diseases.
Men and women leaders from various communities in Argungu emirate, Alhaji Sa’adu Abdullahi-Gulma and Hajiya Zuwaira Musa, respectively, assured the RHCC and other development partners that they would take their task seriously for the benefits of their people.
They observed that the campaign would go a long way in reducing maternal mortality in their community.