The Emir of Gwandu retired Gen. Muhammad Illiyasu-Bashar has promised to support the Rotary Health Communities Challenge (RHCC) to eradicate all forms of diseases affecting children in his domain.
Bashar, who is also the Chairman of the Council of Chiefs in Kebbi, stated this on Wednesday when members of the Rotary Health Communities Challenge (RHCC) paid him an advocacy visit on him.
The Emir, represented by the District Head of Bunza, Dr. Aminu Haliru-Bunza, the Focal Person of the Traditional Council for Local Government Areas on health activities, received the team led by Past District Governor Sagab Sani at his palace in Bunza.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that RHCC is implementing a three-year intervention of Rotary International and PATH targeting the three leading causes of death among children under five in Nigeria: malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea.
NAN also reports that the organisation has recruited indigenes of the state as volunteer workers in all the 13 local government councils where they are operating.
Addressing the team, the Emir said: “Anything that will improve the lives of our children, we will not hesitate to give it the desired attention, with all sense of seriousness. I can assure you of that.
“We really appreciate all your efforts. It is not like in the past when people took things for granted. For the magnitude of people like you to come down here shows that it is more than advocacy.
“This shows that it is high time to show that we are serious and utilise the opportunities given to us. And I can assure you that we will do everything for the sake of our children. No stone will be left unturned,” he assured.
The emir disclosed that village heads and ward leaders had taken responsibility for advocacy in their domains, especially on malaria and polio vaccination, stressing that any case of non-compliance was being resolved immediately.
In his remarks, the team leader of RHCC, Past District Governor Mr. Sagab Sani, informed the Emir that they were in his palace to solicit his support to protect the lives and future of children.
“Right now, in the rural and hard-to-reach communities of this emirate, preventable childhood killer diseases, specifically malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea are cutting short the lives of our children under the age of five.
“To fight this, the RHCC project is working directly at the grassroots. We have recruited, trained, and equipped trusted sons and daughters of your own communities as health volunteers.
“These volunteers are moving from house to another, providing completely free testing, diagnostic services, and life-saving treatments right at the doorsteps of families who live too far from the nearest clinic,” he said.
According to him, the fundamental truth in Kebbi, no government policy, no hospital, and no international partner can succeed without the sacred blessing, trust, and cultural authority of the palace.
“Our people look up to you for guidance. For these health workers to be welcomed into homes, and for mothers to trust these free treatments, we need your royal voice.
“Therefore, we humbly kneel before your throne today to request three specific royal actions,” he pleaded.
Sani said they were soliciting a “Royal Proclamation” for community mobilisation, regular Friday Mosques and public announcements to publicise free health services, as well as the constitution of a Palace Committee for accountability and drug protection.
He explained that the volunteers were ready to discharge their services, treatments, completely free, and the operational teams were on the ground.
Sani, who presented a Royal Commitment Sheet outlining their steps, noted that by giving traditional support and signing the document, the Emir would be throwing the protective shield of the emirate over the children.
