By Iliya Kure
Kaduna state in northern Nigeria, has urged residents to intensify the fight against malaria and its eradication by keeping their environment clean, saying government is concerned by the rising cases of the scourge.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Shehu Usman Muhammad made the call at the first-quarter review of the state 2019 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) of Malaria.
The Permanent Secretary who said prevention of malaria must be key in the state, added that individuals must work towards keeping their environment clean, especially mosquito breeding places.
“Individuals must improve effort in dealing with malaria and dispose items not usable in the homes,” he said.
He announced that the state would soon commence the distribution of the 5.2 million pieces of Insecticides Treated Nets received, and therefore called on officers in charge, to ensure distribution according to the stipulated guidelines of 2 persons per net.
“Every LGA will be involved in the distribution. This is to ensure each person in the state sleeps under the net,” he said.
He appreciated Support to Nigeria Malaria Programme (SuNMaP), a DFID Project, for the support to review the AOP.
“The malaria programme is a state programme and we assure you of our commitment. We will do it well with the best of our ability and committing the needed resources. I call on you the reviewers, to align the work with the Harmonised Health AOP launched about three weeks ago.
In a remark, Kaduna State Team Lead of SuNMaP, Christopher Musa, lamented the rising cases of malaria in recent years, despite gains made in 2016, saying all hands must be on deck to stop further rise.
“Nigeria suffered setback because of dwindled funds from most partners and this led to the challenge. We must therefore take every action to overcome the problem posed by malaria,” he said.
He restated the willingness of his organisation to support Kaduna State in winning the war against malaria.
A Consultant on the project, Uche Ebenezer, tasked reviewers to identify root causes of challenges faced in the implementation of the 2019 malaria operational plan, adding that work towards the design of the 2020 AOP will commence soon.
The reviewers were drawn from the State Ministry of Health and its parastatals, State House of Assembly and Civil Society Organisations.
