Rotary President to visit Nigeria, presents fresh $7m grant for disease prevention

President of Rotary International, Gordon Mclnally, will be embarking on a three-day working visit to Nigeria from Friday, 15th March, 2024, during which he will present a fresh donation of $7 million to the Nigerian Government for disease eradication and prevention.

The latest grant is in addition to the $14 million given to Nigeria by Rotary International two months ago, through the World Health Organization, WHO, for technical assistance on polio surveillance.

Nigeria also received a $2 million grant from Rotary International for the improvement of Maternal and Child Health.

There are indications that, during the visit to Nigeria, Mclnally may have audience with President Bola Tinubu on other areas of assistance on disease control, child and maternal health.

According to a statement by the Coordinator of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Prof Emmanuel Dolapo Lufadeju, and the Co-coordinator, Dr Goddy Nnadi, the visit will enhance the ties between the Federal Government and the Rotary International.

“Rotary International is a Non-Governmental foremost Humanitarian Organization with over 1.5 million members worldwide.

“It enjoys diplomatic status and sits at the United Nations as observer since 1948. The organization has been instrumental to the eradication of Polio in Nigeria.

“This visit is to cement the already existing bond between the Federal Government of Nigeria, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and other stakeholders.

“Nigeria is the awardee of the 2nd ‘’Programme of Scale (PoS), a US$2 million grant, for the improvement of Maternal and Child Health codenamed – ‘Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria’.

“Also, recently, a new grant amounting to US$14 million was given by Rotary, through the WHO to the Government of Nigeria, to enable WHO provide technical assistance on polio surveillance.

‘The grant was also a support to avert a resurgence of wild polio as well as to eradicate the Circulating Variant Poliovirus Type 2 (CVPVD2) in the country (CVPVD2).

“Another US$7 million is to be donated by Rotary to UNICEF for eradication and disease prevention in Nigeria.

“It is important to note that Rotarians are actively involved in the implementation of all Rotary projects in Nigeria, working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the State Ministries of Health and other national and international partners,” the statement said.

The statement further explained that Nigeria is a priority nation to Rotary International.

“Nigeria is a priority country in Africa and indeed in the world for Rotary International.

“The country has four Districts and because of the phenomenal growth of membership, the Rotary Districts in Nigeria will increase to six by July 1, 2024, making it the country with the highest number of Districts in Africa as well as the highest contribution in Humanitarian Giving in the Africa Zone.

“The country is duly recognized by being given the longest duration of Rotary International President’s visit in his Africa Hope Tour.”