 igeria is the most populous country in Africa. It now has a population of 120
million, and the number will double in the next 25 years. The pressure of overpopulation is severe in Nigeria. The fertility rate is about 6.2, and it is
common to find families with over a dozen children. Maternal and child mortality far exceed the worldwide norms.
In picture to right, PDG Robert Zinser, Rotary District 9120 (Ludwigshafen, Germany) and PDG Adedolapo Lufadeju, District 1860
(Zaria, Nigeria) joined for a Matching Grant project to:
- Provide education on the negative effects of excessive population growth
- Provide education on the values of Child Spacing in reducing infant and maternal mortality
- Provide training for paramedical workers and traditional birth attendants in reproductive health care
Rotarian workers and others trained over 1,000 doctors and birth attendants in this Child Spacing and Family Planning project.  Grants were made by the German Government
and the Rotary Foundation. The project was aimed not only at the conventional health care system, but at the
traditional system provided predominately by Birth Attendants in the rural area. Courses and training included screening for reproductive tract cancer and complete
information on available Child Spacing methods. Rotarians involved in the project previewed the proposed work with the
traditional/religious leaders in the target areas, who agreed completely with the project details and were grateful for the help. Testimonial
:
" I am Jummai Mohammed, a 36 year old woman living in the northern part
of Nigeria. I live with my husband of 24 years in Zaria. When time allows, I trade small
goods to help make ends meet. We have 12 children, eight of them alive. In my
neighborhood lives Hajai Hauwa who is a traditional birth attendant. She has been trained
in counseling and Child Spacing through the Rotary Child Spacing project. At the local
Government Health Clinic, a nurse examined me and prescribed an IUCD (intra-uterine
contraceptive device). This service has completely turned my life around for the better.
Socially, there are better relations with my husband, now that we know that not every
intercourse will result in a pregnancy. My health is better now, and I always say thanks to God and to Hajai Hauwa."
Population Balance is achievable with Rotary projects of this sort.
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