Kaduna — In its bid to eradicate polio all over the world, Rotary Foundation of Rotary International has committed over $650 million to the fight against polio according to the governor of District 9120 of Rotary in Nigeria.

Engineer Saliu Osifuemhe who disclosed that Nigeria benefited from the fund, noted that the combined efforts against polio have been able to limit the child killer disease to four countries namely Nigeria, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.

Speaking at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House when he led a team of the Rotary Club on a courtesy call on Governor Mohammed Namadi Sambo of kaduna State, he said the amount contributed by the club was second only to the contributions of the United States of America.

He added that Kaduna State is currently benefiting from an improvement in maternal health and prevention of obstetric fistula project, which is executed in partnership with Rotary Districts in Germany and Austria and the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

According to him, under this project, which has been ongoing in Kaduna and Kano as pilot states since 2005, medical doctors, nurses and other category of health workers are being trained in the rudiments of fistulae repair and prevention.

He added; "Over 200 patients of fistulae have been successfully repaired and are currently undergoing various vocational skills and rehabilitation trainings in a bid to assist them to live well after the treatment.

"In the a couple of weeks, we shall be taking delivery of over 10,000 insecticide treated nets to be distributed to our mothers to enhance safety against the incidence of malaria," he said.

He however, solicited for the continued partnership of the Kaduna state government in their various efforts to implement meaningful and life changing projects in various communities of the state.

Responding, Governor Mohammed Namadi Sambo of Kaduna State assured the members of the club of his administration readiness to partner with them in order to move the state forward.

He said the activities of the club are in line with the 11 points agenda of his Administration, which was conceived to move the state forward in all ramifications especially in the health sector.