40,000 to benefit from Rotary World Family Health Day

Rotarians For Fighting AIDS(RFFA), recently celebrated the World Family Health Day at Rotary Centre, Ikeja GRA, Lagos with a target to reach over 40,000 residents of Lagos and Ogun states with free health services.The Rotary Family Health Day, a community-based initiative implemented in several countries with funding support by The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, helps to build sustainable communities tackling HIV and other killer diseases through providing free health testing services.On June 1 and 2, members of the public in Lagos, Isara, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode, received HIV testing and counselling, tuberculosis screening, cataract eye test and treatment, diabetes and blood pressure testing, cervical cancer screening, and dental clinics amongst others. More people also benefitted as the programme was continued on June 9 in Abeokuta and Osun State.The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, sponsorship of the programme was aimed at reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS by enabling humanitarian organisations like the RFFA implement initiatives that promote prevention, awareness and counselling services for communities. The Foundation invests in social projects to help create sustainable communities by improving the quality of life and increasing the opportunities for Africans. Speaking on the activities of the Rotarians For Fighting Aids (RFFA), Mr Kennedy Ejakpomewhe, the District Governor of Rotary District 9110 said; 'the Rotarians For Fighting Aids is an action group of the Rotary International. Our aim is to provide essential health services to the less privileged and help satisfy a basic human need for quality health care for many who cannot afford it and we are happy that a large organisation like Coca-Cola is sponsoring our activities'Explaining the emphasis on HIV/AIDS, he said; 'the scourge is worrisome because an estimated 3.6 per cent of the population are living with HIV/AIDS. Approximately 220,000 people died from AIDS in Nigeria in 2009 alone. With AIDS claiming so many lives, Nigeria's life expectancy has declined significantly.' Mr Olugbemiga Olowu, the District Governor nominee of Rotary District 9110, revealed at the conference that 40 of the 79 rotary clubs in Nigeria would be participating in the Family Health Programme and 55 sites across Lagos and Ogun states would be carrying out free tests and counselling for citizens of the community. 'Communities are made up of families and healthy families make healthy communities which is why we have tagged the programme Rotary Family Health Day,' he said.''Although, our core focus is on HIV/AIDS testing we have included other health tests to encourage large number of people to participate and know their health status. If families come out en-masse to check their health status, we will be on the right path to building healthy communities and fulfilling the fundamental objective of our organisation which is serving humanity with projects that address their needs,' he added.
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