Population and Development in Africa
August 2003

I Abuja Report
Presidential Celebration on Population Concerns

II Featured Project

Child Spacing Project, Nigeria

III Rotary News Basket Abuja, Africa

Abuja Report
Overview -- Presidential Celebration on Population Concerns
Abuja, Nigeria August 9, 2003

By Past District Governor E. Adedolapo Lufadeju, Event Chairman
Past Chairman, Rotarian Initiative for Population & Development

Abuja Nigeria was in festive mood on August 9, 2003 when over 1,500 Rotarians and their spouses, Inner Wheel members, Rotaractors, and guests from 16 countries converged at the Nicon Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria, for the Presidential Celebration on Population Concerns.  Rotarians came from Benin Republic, Congo Kinshasa, Gabon, Ghana, Togo, Gambia, Cameroon, Uganda, Egypt, Tchad, United States, Germany, Canada, Austria, India and the Netherlands.

RFPD Officers, surround President Majiyagbe. Left to right Past Chairman PDG E. Adedolapo Lufadeju, Secretary & Past Chairman, PDG Buck Lindsay, Chairman PDG Robert Zinser, and Vice Chairman PDG Salem Mashhour.

The conference in Nigeria was particularly aimed at showcasing the efforts of local Rotarians and their counterparts in the rest of the World, especially Germany and the United States, in addressing the issue through their model "Child Spacing Family Health and Aids Education" project benefiting many families in the North of Nigeria.

The RI President alighted from the aircraft into the waiting hands of hundreds of Rotarians and rotaractors, welcoming him with great jubilation and happiness, relishing the home coming of a worthy ambassador of peace.

The United Nations Fund for Population activities UNFPA was represented by a high-powered delegation led by the Deputy Executive Director Mrs Imelda Henkin. The delegation included Mr. Snyder, Mrs Diana Langston and the Country Representative in Nigeria, Niagoram Essan.  The US-based Packard Foundation which has been supporting the 3H Project financially, sent a delegation led by a Trustee of their board Mr. Colburn Wilbur accompanied by the officer in charge of the Nigerian 3H Project, Mr. Don Lauro.

The RI President, Jon Majiyagbe and his delegation comprising past, present and future RI officers from Nigeria and other parts of the world, were warmly received by the President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo, The Nigerian President congratulated RI President Majiyagbe for the unique achievement of becoming Rotary World leader and commended Rotary for all the humanitarian efforts of the organisation throughout the World.  Thereafter the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria Hajia Amina Titi Abubakar Atiku treated the RI President and his delegation to a sumptuous luncheon.

President Majiyagbe paid a courtesy call to the offices of the Nigerian Television Authority, and was welcomed by the Director General of the organisation Chief Tony Iredia in company of his able lieutenants led by PDG Engineer Joshua Hassan.  In a remarkable recognition of the visit of the RI President to Nigeria, the Nigerian Television Authority in an unprecedented move ensured the broadcast of the entire proceeding of the conference live to the Nigerian public.

Conference planners were guided by the advice of RI President Jon B. Majiyagbe emphasising the opportunity that this conference provides for Rotarians to become involved in population concerns, and providing a forum for the discussion of population concerns and for sharing information about successful projects and challenges experienced in developing and implementing such projects.

In his welcome address conference chairman Past District Governor E. Adedolapo Lufadeju enjoined participants to take advantage of the presence of our numerous friends from developed countries, and acquire project partners for population-based projects.  In her keynote address Imelda Henkin confirmed that Family Planning/Child spacing is key to human welfare and poverty alleviation. She reiterated the readiness of UNFPA to work with Rotary International in this respect.  She also recognised the efforts of the Rotarian Initiative for Population and Development (RIFPD); a growing group of Rotarians dedicated to the implementation of population projects worldwide.  While declaring the conference open, the Hon Minister for Health Dr. Eyitayo Lambo representing President Obasanjo, credited Rotary with a track record of successful humanitarian work and pledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria to Rotary International.

Celebration speakers Dr Dapo Shittu, Dr. Andrew Arkutu, Mr. Cole Wilbur and PRID Bill Cadwallader focussed on how best Rotary clubs and districts can implement humanitarian projects on population concerns of improving reproductive health, improving girl-child education, establishing micro-enterprise for women, and creating awareness on obstetric fistula cases. The open forum discussions generated active audience participation.

The conference project exhibition was declared open by Hajia Amina Titi Abubakar Atiku, wife of the wife President of Nigeria, who advised participants to exchange project ideas and sought support for her own project on "Women Trafficking, and Child Labour".

The Chairman of RIFPD PDG Robert Zinser and the Secretary PDG Buck Lindsay helped the planning of the Celebration, and assisted in organizing the project exhibition/exchange phase of the celebration.  They prepared project modules on population and development, which were taken up by Rotary clubs for implementation. Over 20 Rotary clubs signed up for project implementation.

At the concluding Gala Banquet, the RI President expressed satisfaction on the day's events but reminded Rotarians to ensure that 'we are able to demonstrate the outcomes of this Celebration in tangible ways by continuing communication and project ideas among yourselves'.  Ade Majiyagbe the unforgettable late wife of the RI President was fondly remembered, and her humanitarian achievements during her lifetime was recognised.

Prominent participants from outside Africa include Past RI Director Bill Cadwallader, RIFPD Vice President Salem Mashhour, PDG Bruno von Mengden, DG Princess Fugger Hans Martin, Helga Scheuch, Matthias Schütt, and Latietia De Witt.

After the conclusion of the Presidential Celebration, interested Rotarians and UNFPA officials were conducted round the project states in northern Nigeria, from Abuja to Jos, through Kano and Kaduna in a hectic 3-day blitz.

E. Adedolapo Lufadeju, Chairman
2003-4 Presidential Celebration on Population and Develokpment

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Featured Project
3H Child Spacing Project

Sponsored by:

PDG E. Adedolapo Lufadeju, District 9120 Nigera
Past Chairman - Rotarian Initiative for Population & Development (RIFPD),

and

District 1860 Germany
PDG Robert Zinser
Chairman - Rotarian Initiative for Population & Development (RIFPD)

" Nigerian and German Rotarians work together to
promote health education in the community"

"Three years after the introduction of a Rotary child-spacing project in Nigeria, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) field representatives are working with Rotary clubs to replicate the successful project in other areas of Nigeria and throughout the continent of Africa.

Child Spacing and Family Health Investigation Centers, developed by Nigerian and German Rotary clubs working together, educate families (in Lere and Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria) about the benefits of spacing childbirth. Child spacing allows time for the mother's body to heal and recover from childbirth, thereby greatly reducing the rate of maternal and infant mortality.

The Centers were created by the Rotary clubs in Lere and Zaria in response to alarming statistics released by the UNFPA. Nigeria's population, which exceeded 120 million, was expected to double by the year 2022 and multiply 7-fold within 75 years. With a fertility rate averaging 6.1 births per woman, it was not uncommon to find families with more than a dozen children. But the most disturbing statistics showed that maternal and infant mortality significantly exceeded world norms.

Supported by grants from The Rotary Foundation and the German government, Child Spacing and Family Health Investigation Centers supplement conventional reproductive health care services which were previously provided mainly by midwives to the rural people of these communities. To further educate birth attendants, nurses, doctors, and other village health workers, workshops were conducted with the support of an additional Rotary Foundation Matching Grant. Course content included screening for reproductive tract cancer and complete information on available child-spacing methods. Following the workshop, knowledge on the topics improved from 70% to 91% among the more than 1,000 doctors, nurses, health care workers, traditional birth attendants and town criers who participated. Since 1995, participation in the Centers' programs have multiplied 10-15 times over, helping more than 1,300 women.

Today, prepared with information and choices about women's health issues, men and women are making decisions together which affect the size and health of their families. As a result of the project, organizers report that child spacing and women's health issues are no longer 'concealed' topics in these cities, but practical matters. In addition, they have noted a significant increase in the contraceptive prevalence rate of women of child-bearing age in these two cities — from 3% to 12% in Zaria City and 3% to 15% in Lere.

To ensure the project's acceptance, organizers mounted a massive reproductive health awareness campaign with the support of civic and religious community leaders. Midwives, trained in child-spacing counseling, used drama groups to educate and inform women in their communities. Town criers conveyed important messages and information at all public ceremonies and important occasions. The predominantly male town criers played a key role in educating men who are heads of households and, more often than not, the family decision makers.

According to Rotarians in Nigeria, much of the success of the project can be attributed to the support of the men in the communities. Without the consent and approval of the husbands, organizers say, many women would have been unable or reluctant to learn about the concepts of child spacing.

August 2003

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Rotary News Basket No. 822 - 14 August 2003

"Rotarians discuss concerns and initiatives
at Nigeria Presidential Celebration

More than 1,500 Rotarians flocked to the Nigerian capital, Abuja, from all parts of the country and beyond to attend the RI Presidential Celebration at the Abuja Nicon Hilton Hotel on 9 August 2003. The event was planned to spotlight Rotarian activities aimed at addressing population concerns in Nigeria, which with more than 120 million people, is Africa's most populous country.

The celebration was declared open by Nigeria's Health Minister Professor Eyitayo Lambo, who represented Obasanjo at the event. In a keynote address, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Deputy Executive Director Imelda Henkin commended Rotary for projects that assist families in improving their health and living standards.

"Rotarians are renowned for their selfless dedication to community service," she said. "We hope that UNFPA and Rotary International will be able to work together to help reduce the incidence of reproductive diseases such as obstetric fistula that affect African women."

Other highlights of the event included an open discussion forum and a projects fair showcasing initiatives aimed at addressing development and population issues, HIV/AIDS, and other health concerns, as well as an awards and recognition ceremony at a gala banquet where RI President Majiyagbe presented four Paul Harris Fellow pins and specially designed plaques to conference speakers and Rotarians.

The event was also very much a celebration of the homecoming of RI President Jonathan Majiyagbe, who was traveling back to his motherland for the first time since taking office in July. From the moment he stepped off the plane at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport near Abuja on 8 August, President Majiyagbe was given the royal welcome and feted as a goodwill ambassador of Nigeria and Africa and for the historic achievement of his being the first RI president from Africa.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo received Majiyagbe at Aso Rock, official residence of the Nigerian presidency, on 8 August and the two addressed a joint press conference highlighting the complementary roles played by Rotary and the government in Africa's development.

"I will challenge the members of my government that Rotary is a worthwhile organization to join and support," said Obasanjo. The Nigerian president congratulated RI President Majiyagbe upon his taking office, remarking that Africans playing a leading role in the organization would ensure the expansion of Rotary on the continent

Commenting on the challenges of polio eradication in Nigeria, one of seven countries where the crippling disease is still endemic, Obasanjo said it was a national shame that children in the country were not fully protected from the poliovirus.

"We will do everything in our powers to rid our country of polio by 2004," he said, "even if it is necessary that I go out in the next 15 months to help with educating people in the affected areas about polio eradication."

RI President Jonathan Majiyagbe thanked Obasanjo for the support that Rotary has received from the Nigerian government and the Nigerian president personally. "You and your government have been extremely supportive of our efforts to help eradicate polio in Nigeria and for other initiatives we've undertaken in the country," he said.

The RI president requested the government's help in reducing red tape at Nigerian customs which greatly hampered the flow of medical supplies and other humanitarian goods from the Rotary world to communities that needed it within the country."

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