PORT HARCOURT – OVER a hundred residents received free treatment, more gained awareness on prevention as Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Abuloma took fight against malaria to Abuloma in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

The health outreach, part of Rotary’s observance of 2026 World Malaria Day engaged Rotarians, health workers and community volunteers in Malaria Awareness Walk, through streets of the community with placards and messages on prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment.

With support from Alkaline Medical Diagnostic Center and Colworths Medical Center, the campaign belted at the Model Primary Health Center Abuloma, where children, mothers, the young and old received malaria testing, treatment, insecticide-treated nets, health education and vital health checks.

The President, Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Abuloma, Dr. Ovunda Jack Omodu, noted that Malaria as a persistent public health challenge disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, particularly in riverine and densely populated communities as Abuloma.

Interventions like the outreach not only provide immediate relief but also to build long-term awareness and behavioral change in the fight to eradicate malaria scourge.

“This is about saving lives and empowering people with the knowledge to protect themselves. When you bring healthcare directly to the community, you remove barriers -cost, distance, even fear. Our commitment is to ensure malaria is no longer a silent killer in places like this”, Omodu emphasized.

The Club’s Grant Committee Chair, Julius Aguni, explained that Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) Global Grant #62, the implementing fund drives Rotary’s investment in sustainable health interventions, targeting prevention, early diagnosis, and community education as pillars in malaria eradication efforts.

Aguni noted, “We are ensuring that communities like Abuloma are equipped with both the tools and the knowledge needed to combat malaria effectively. The goal is long-term reduction, not temporary relief.”

Among beneficiaries, a middle-aged tested with her two children shared that she she had long suspected recurring fever but had been unable to seek proper diagnosis due to financial limitations.

“Today, we were tested, treated, and given nets. I now understand better how to prevent malaria in my home,” she said.

A young man who participated in the health checks, noted that beyond malaria, the outreach broaden his awareness on his general health status, adding “I didn’t know my blood pressure was high. This program opened my eyes.”