Name of Project : Saving lives of mothers and newborns in Nigeria
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe. Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger.
The implementation and integration of technology in their projects helps them further the objectives to make progress in SDGs # 3 and 5. For example to ensure relevance, action, equality and equity, community and stakeholder meetings will be organized in inclusive safe environments, ensuring communication matches audience time schedules to successfully receive information.
SDG Focused project that is currently under implementation is “Saving lives of mothers and newborns in Nigeria” with the aims of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by 25% by 2025 and reaching 2.3 million people with key messages and services. During the project, women were given trainings on how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission, how to breast-feed, and how to protect themselves and their children from disease.
This mandate is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal # 3 – reducing maternal and child mortality and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, Goal # 5 – gender equality and empowerment of women and girls and Goal # 17 – strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
The central aim of this endeavor is to foster improvements in human well-being and dignity, women’s empowerment and a sustainable balance between population and environment. These objectives are in line with the SDG # 3.
The most difficult challenge faced by Rotary is the ability to fund their projects. Ideally, it would be great to integrate solar powered panels in the training centers for nurses and midwives, lowering the electricity costs and accessing clean green energy.
Additionally, they are currently working with a partner organization in implementing a certified carbon credit program with family planning at its core, but this also requires significant funding.
As geared toward Maternal and Child Health, their wish for the future is that the sustainable tech industry creates more tools to aid organizations in their mission to improve the lives of current and future generations. Rotary aims to work alongside future breakthroughs in sustainable technology and do the utmost to find financing sources and implement projects in mother and child health that use newer, cleaner, and more sustainable technologies.
Useful links:
https://rotaryrmch.org/1/10/Child_Maternal_Mortality/
https://youtu.be/6CqI1LhKiVI (Video)
