By Adenitan Akinola
A total of three million six hundred thousand Insecticide Treated Mosquito Net, ITN is to be distributed to various households in Osun State.
The National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr Perpetua Uhomoibhi gave the information at a media orientation on Insecticide Treated Mosquito Net in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
The National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme who was represented by an official of the agency, Mrs Chinbututu Margaret announced that the distribution would take place between the 6th and 17th of July this year.
Dr Uhomoibhi explained that the NMEP had designed an effective mechanism that incorporated the locals, traditional and religious institutions in Osun State in the distribution chain to ensure that it reached the remotest part of the state.
She said, although there was evidence of a reduction in malaria burden in Nigeria to 22 percent against 49 percent in 2010, but the federal government and its collaborating partners were determined to ensure that the burden was reduced more significantly.
The Coordinator noted that “from the last survey we did in 2001, Osun State recorded the lowest utilisation rate of the mosquito net. So it is imperative for all of us, particularly the Media to heighten its efforts in ensuring that the people are aware that the net is to be used and not kept in their homes”.
Also speaking at the Programme, the representatives of one of the collaborating partners, The Society for Family Health, SFH Nigeria, Mr Gbue Daniel pointed out that Nigeria alone accounted for one out of four malaria burden in Africa.
Mr Gbue said the burden was much among women and children as 30% of Child and 11 percent of maternal deaths in Nigeria were caused by malaria.
“I’m addition to the direct health challenge, Malaria scourge also exerts huge socio-economic burden on our communities and country. Billions of Naira are lost to malaria annually inform of treatment cost, prevention and loss of man-hours“. He said.
Mr Gbue appealed to the Media that to consider the fight against malaria as a key component of their health campaigns.
He also called on the private sector to incorporate malaria prevention in their social responsibility agenda by supporting government at all levels in the campaigns.
Speaking on behalf of Osun State government, the Manager of Osun Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr Olufemi Oroge urged the media to support the government in the campaign to eliminate malaria by using their various platforms to enlighten the people.
Dr Oroge promised the state government commitment to ensuring the utilisation of the treated mosquito net.
The federal government’s National Malaria Elimination Programme is supported by the Society for Family Health and the Catholic Relief Services.
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