RURAL HEALTH DELIVERY: NGO Lauds Effort Of Government, Calls For More Funding

"Quality sensitization, creating the right awareness among rural and community dwellers has been part of the tools of the Hope for Village Child Foundation in the various communities in order to serve the people better, for the right enlightenment campaigns." Sister Ekwoanya, Deputy Director, HVCF.

The efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, lead by Professor Ali Muhammad Pate, the  Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare in the continuous fight against Malaria in the country have continued to elicit varying comments from stakeholders and the people. The efforts of the government, viewed as commendable, must remain a continuous exercise in order to actualize the desired results.

 

The Hope for Village Child Foundation (a Non-Governmental Organisation); one of the very notable stakeholders in the health sector based in Kaduna state, is one organization that has remained consistent in the quest to eradicate malaria, especially among people dwelling in the rural areas. Its outreach programmes for rural dwellers has placed it on the top of the list of NGO’s in the state and has therefore, earned it several commendations from local and international sponsors.

According to Reverend Sister Juliana Ekwoanya, Deputy Director of the Hope for Village Child Foundation, while assessing the gains on the fight against Malaria, said that, “the fight against Malaria has yielded positive results. In our area of coverage, the percentage of patients coming down with malaria among those we serve is not less than 50% of those who access our services.”

 

Tasked on the most visible challenges encountered so far in eradicating malaria in rural communities and the chances that malaria can be, either eradicated or, reduced to the barest minimum, especially the fatality rates among pregnant women and children in our society, she has this to say.

“The most visible challenges encountered includes, unhygienic environment and poor water sources, congested homes, non-use of mosquito nets, poor drainage systems and toilet facilities, poorly treated malaria cases, recurrent malaria, etc.

 

“We also have facilities that carry out symptomatic treatments. However, the chances of eradicating or reducing malaria to the barest minimum among pregnant women and children in our society can only be possible if standard health facilities that are well supported/empowered with all the needed logistics to deliver malaria preventive and treatment/care.”

 

She stressed that quality sensitization, creating the right awareness among rural and community dwellers has been part of the tools of the Hope for Village Child Foundation in the various communities in order to serve the people better, for the right enlightenment campaigns.

On the issue of funding from its funding partners, Sister Ekwoanya disclosed that the funding partners have been very good though it is limited to specific services.

 

She pointed out that the funding are usually for specification purposes. “For example, the fund we get from ‘MISEREOR’ is for "medical assistance for children with deformities". 

On the other hand, we have individual donors who donated for the “water wells with hand-pumps” sunk in communities. Each has a specific number of wells and this depends on how much funds that is available. For instance, in the year 2022, we were able to provide 21 wells. In 2023, we had an increase in the number of wells with a figure of 30 wells and in 2024, 28 wells were sunk. In addition, we have some other partners like the Hope for the African Village Child that supports us with educational materials for children while some individuals give support for food to the vulnerable in the society.

Sister Ekwoanya further revealed that the Hope for Village Child Foundation is also collaborating with organizations such as; the NEEM Foundation in peace promotion and, Save the Children International under inclusive education for children with disability.

 

“In all our work and dealings, we respect donors intention”, Sister Juliana Ekwoanya emphasized.

 

Describing the efforts of the states and the federal government in tackling the scourge, the Deputy Director of the Hope for Village Child Foundation opined that the health sector be accorded the highest priority. Nevertheless, this is not the case in our state and country.

 

On her vision for the health sector and also, the funding by government at both levels; state and federal, she called for leaders to re-strategize and, put infrastructures in-place that will address the present day health needs of our beloved people.

"Funding received, if any, from the government is not noticeable." She concluded.