by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
It has been observed that malaria had taken a lot of lives, cut short a lot of dreams, and is a major public health issue with grave implications for national development.
A team of United States Government President Malaria Initiative, Global Health Supply Chain, Breakthrough Action Nigeria has provided 2.9 million nets to be distributed to the people of Plateau State.
The Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon Musa Ashoms, disclosed this when he received a team from the United States Government President’s Malaria Initiative, Global Health Supply Chain, and Breakthrough Action Nigeria/State Ministry of Health at his office at the JD Gomwalk Secretariat, Jos on Tuesday.
According to Ashoms, “Malaria had taken a lot of lives, cut short a lot of dreams and that the ministry should be the one looking for the team and not the other way round, in terms of collaboration.”
He expressed happiness with the visit because the government has given indication that it was poised to resolve many issues relating to public health, among which was malaria.
The Commissioner noted that, “For Plateau State, it is time to say “No” to malaria, by means of fighting it through the use of treated nets, and that the sole responsibility of the ministry was to inform Plateau people adequately.
“The visit was very important, which was why journalists came in their numbers to report on it. It was the government’s desire to have a healthy citizenry; hence the campaign was well received.
Hon. Ashoms further appreciated the team for the provision of 2.9 million nets, which would be distributed to the people of Plateau, as he gave assurance that the ministry would collaborate with the team to ensure that the citizens were well informed.
Speaking earlier was the Senior Program Officer, Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Dr. Olusola Adeoye, who said malaria still remained a big challenge in the state, explaining that from last survey conducted in Nigeria, malaria in Plateau was endemic.
She said the World Health Organization had shown that when people used Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) consistently, every night, all-year-round, they would not get malaria.
Dr. Olusola said the team was being sponsored by USAID, which was being supported by the UK-funded Case Malaria Foundation to distribute treated nets to every household in Plateau.
According to her, the team needed the support of the ministry in areas like creating awareness on the campaign, promotion of the use of treated nets, through the use of all media stations – be it electronic and print – for proper dissemination of the campaign messages.
She also sought the ministry’s assistance in the mobilization of the media, and coordination of media parley where the team would provide clarification on any misconception on the use of nets.
The high point of the visit was the presentation of the timeline of the campaign to the State Information and Communication commissioner.