Malaria Prevention, Key in Kaduna State – Perm Sec
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Human Services, Kaduna State, Shehu Usman Muhammad, has said prevention of malaria is key in the state, urging individuals to 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.
The Permanent Secretary, gave the charge at the first-quarter review of its 2019 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) of Malaria.
He called on residents to intensify the fight against malaria and its eradication by keeping their environment clean, saying government was concerned by rising cases of the scourge.
According to him, the state will soon commence the distribution of the 5.2 million pieces of Insecticides Treated Nets received, calling 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 gain made by 2016, saying all hands must be on deck to stop it.
“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 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.
