…….flags off 2023 anti-malaria campaign
By Dare Akogun
Recognizing the importance of a robust healthcare system, the Governor of Kwara state Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq has vowed to prioritize the health sector in order to make basic healthcare services available to the residents of the state.
The governor also commended Global Fund as the body concerned with health matters rated his administration as one of the best in the fight against malaria.
The governor made this known at the flag-off ceremony of the integrated SMC/ITN campaign for 2023 today in Ilorin, the event that signifies the launch of the statewide distribution of integrated Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention and insecticide Treated Nets (SMC/ITN) across communities in the state.
“Today’s event again testifies to the commitment of our administration to the wellbeing of our people, especially in the fight against malaria. Our malaria elimination programmes and strategies are complementary to the multipronged approach we are using to address health care challenges in the state,” he said.
Speaking on the achievement recorded by the administration during the implementation of the 2020 ITN campaigns, the governor promised to continue to pay prompt attention to the health needs of the masses.
Governor Abdulrasaq said the mosquito net is an effective tool to tackle the menace of malaria through the barrier it provides against mosquito bites, especially in the night when used as prescribed, urging Kwara residents to collect and put them to good use.
“The remarkable success of our last outing in November, 2020 was not limited to the 99% state-wide coverage and its attendant socioeconomic impacts. It also contributed to the overall improved health indices that we are celebrating and have been rewarded for in the state.
“It has been established that these interventions have helped to bring the prevalence of malaria to as low as 20%. This is far from the 27% that was recorded in 2018 before we came on board and even below the current national average of 22%.
“The success in the implementation of the SMC strategy since 2021 where we have been administering malaria preventive tablets to our under 5-year-old children has also crashed the incidence of severe malaria among this age group to as low as 6%,” he said.
He congratulated every member of the team and partners on the huge feats made and pledged to continue to create an enabling environment to encourage and support partnerships and collaborations to achieve a lot more.
In his remark, Dr. Jean-thomas, country manager for Global Fund, hailed the Governor’s leadership style and dynamism that he noted led to the state’s landmark achievements in the health sector.
The Governor had earlier on Wednesday received on a courtesy visit a delegation comprising representatives of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and Team Lead for Global Fund Programme Management Unit for National Malaria Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health Dr. Issa Kawu; Nigeria Country Manager for Global Fund, Dr. Jean-Thomas Nouboussi; Managing Director Society for Family Health, Dr. Omokhudi Idogho; and State Coordinator for World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Salihu Abdullahi; among other dignitaries.
They were received at the Government House alongside Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Abdulkadir Mahe Aliyu; State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam; Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bola Olukoju; Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology (BIT), Yusuf Damilola; Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abubakar Bata; and Commissioner for Energy, Abdulganiy Abdulazeez Kola among others.
