Groups launch Sh3.9 billion plan to combat childhood diseases in four countries

Health systems in four African countries will benefit from an investment of Sh3.9 billion (US$30 million) to fight some of the deadliest diseases affecting children.

These diseases include malaria, pneumonia (lower respiratory infections), and diarrheal diseases.

In a statement, Rotary Foundation, the World Vision, and the Gates Foundation, said they  will collectively contribute US$30 million to fund large-scale, high-impact programming, with local leadership and organisations to improve health outcomes for children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia.

The initiative is called ‘Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge’ and it will work to strengthen community health systems to deliver lasting disease prevention and treatment in these countries.

Rotary said its members will work with these organisations to strengthen community health systems and increase the capacity of community health workers in order to ensure that programmes are sustainable.

"Rotary is committed to strengthening health systems and combating diseases by empowering communities to use locally driven solutions that work,” said Rotary International President Gordon McInally. "Together, with the Gates Foundation and World Vision, we will invest in proven methods to help communities provide a healthier and more hopeful future in which everyone will have the opportunity to thrive."

The selection of the four participating countries was based on disease burden, Rotary member engagement, partnership potential, and alignment with Ministry of Health strategies.

Rotary said its members in each of the participating countries have worked with local partners and ministries of health to develop a programme and implementation plan using an evidence-based community health worker model adapted to address each country's health priorities.

"Investing in community health workers is one of the best things we can do to bolster the fight against malaria and other preventable diseases," said Philip Welkhoff, Director of Malaria at the Gates Foundation. "We are proud to build on our partnership with Rotary and World Vision and are confident this new initiative will help ensure that children in these four countries have the opportunity to grow up healthy and reach their full potential."

The ‘Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge’, the statement said, was built upon the success of the Rotary club-led ‘Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia’ programme that supported the community health workers to reduce the incidence of malaria in ten target districts within two highly affected provinces.

With support from the Rotary Foundation, World Vision USA, and the Gates Foundation - each contributing $2 million - 2,500 community health workers were added to the national health system in Zambia, allowing for more effective malaria diagnosis and treatment for more than 1.3 million people.

“It’s an honor to collaborate with the Rotary Foundation and the Gates Foundation to tackle these top killers of children,” said Edgar Sandoval Sr., World Vision president and CEO. “When partners join together, we can have a greater impact on helping the most vulnerable reach their full God-given potential.”