[D9640general] [eFlash_Rotary] Digest Number 825

[Garry Krischock]

 <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eFlash_Rotary/message/1477;_ylc=X3oDMTJxc2g2bHM4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzI3ODYwNzYEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDY0MDg2BG1zZ0lkAzE0NzcEc2VjA2Rtc2cEc2xrA3Ztc2cEc3RpbWUDMTIyMDA4MzY1MA--> 1559: Rotary maternal health project receives royal recognition 

 

Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:29 pm (PDT) 


Rotary maternal health project receives royal recognition
By Matthias Schütt
[http://www.rotary.org/SiteCollectionImages/News/zinser1.jpg]
Nigerian Emir Shehu Idris of Zazzau (right) congratulates PDG Robert
Zinser during a Turbanning Ceremony at the emir's palace in Zaria 8
August. Photo by Matthias Schütt
In appreciation for his work in improving maternal health care in
northern Nigeria, Past Governor Robert Zinser of District 1860 (Germany)
was initiated into the inner circle of the Emir of Zazzau, 1 of 10
powerful traditional leaders in northern Nigeria.

Emir Shehu Idris awarded Zinser the traditional title of Shahon Zazzau
(Eagle of Zazzau) during a special ceremony 8 August at the emir's
palace in Zaria.

Zinser is the project coordinator of a joint Nigerian-Austrian-German
Rotary project to treat and prevent obstetric fistula, a painful birth
injury that often results in a stillborn child and leaves the woman with
chronic incontinence.

"The treatment of fistula patients," says Zinser, "is a humanitarian
commitment to help the weakest in Nigeria's society. But this can
only be the first step. What we actually pursue is a comprehensive
approach to raise awareness for medical care for women and rather
prevent obstetric fistula."
Reducing child mortality
As vice chair of the Rotary Action Group for Population and Development 
<http://www.rifpd.org/introduction.html> , Zinser, a member of the
Rotary Club of Ludwigshafen-Rheinschanze, has been involved in three
projects in Nigeria since 1995, including conducting advocacy and
awareness campaigns on child spacing and the risks of early marriage,
training health personnel, and delivering quality equipment to
hospitals, with the goal of reducing maternal and child mortality.

In 2005 the current €1 million (US$1.46 million) project was starte
d in the two states of Kano 
<http://travel.yahoo.com/p-map-487433-map_of_kano-i> and Kaduna 
<http://travel.yahoo.com/p-map-487432-map_of_kaduna-i> with a target
population of 5 million women. The elements of this approach include
radio serials, training of health personnel, delivery of medical
equipment, and quality improvement of structure, process, and outcome.

Zinser is now the only non-Nigerian on the Emirate Council. During the
turbanning ceremony, a white turban was placed on his head. Zinser
thanked the emir by handing over one of the 3,000 mosquito nets donated
for distribution to families during recent polio vaccination efforts,
one of several projects directed at reducing mother and child mortality
in Nigeria.

The support of Nigeria's emirs, traditional religious leaders who work
in close cooperation with the Nigerian administration, is critical to
the continued success of Zinser's work.

Source: Rotary International News / Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary

 

 

 

 

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