Biodun Esan, Ilorin
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has flagged off the distribution of 2.2 million integrated Seasonal Malaria
Chemoprevention and insecticide-treated Nets (SMC/ITN) across communities in the state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the integrated SMC/ITN campaign for 2023 in Ilorin on Wednesday, AbdulRazaq said the event was a testimony of the commitment of his administration to the well-being of our people, especially in the fight against malaria.
“Our malaria elimination programs and strategies are complementary to the multi-pronged approach we are using to address healthcare
challenges in the state,” the Governor said.
Dwelling on the huge success recorded by the administration during the implementation of the 2020 ITN campaigns,
AbdulRazaq promised to continue to pay prompt attention to the health needs of the masses.
The Governor 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 percent 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 malaria prevalence to as low as 20 percent. This is far from the 27 percent that was recorded in 2018 before we came on board and even
below the current national average of 22 percent.
“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 percent,” the Governor
said.
AbdulRazaq 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.
Dr. Issa Kawu of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Federal
Ministry of Health, who represented the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said malaria, according to the 2022 World Malaria Report, remained a major public health challenge in Nigeria, with the country
contributing 27 percent to the global malaria burden and 23 percent to malaria deaths globally.
He commended the Governor for his pro-activeness which has resulted in the huge success recorded in the state’s response to malaria
prevalence.
Dr. Kawu said malaria prevalence has dropped drastically in Kwara State under the watch of the Governor owing to his commitments to the anti-malaria campaign in the state.
Dr. El-Imam, Commissioner for Health, in her remarks, said the 2.2 million nets worth $11.6 million and SPAQ (malaria preventive drugs) worth $36.1 million are to be distributed in this round for the benefit of the people.
She attributed the feat the government has recorded to the government’s passion and responsiveness to the welfare needs of the citizens, hoping to achieve greater results for the current SMC/ITN campaign.
The Commissioner said the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC)
activities were already ongoing in 11 LGAs of the state that were selected based on rainfall pattern information for four consecutive months.
Dr. Jean-Thomas, country manager for Global Fund, hailed the Governor’s leadership style and dynamism which he said led to the state’s landmark achievements in the health sector.
He said AbdulRazaq’s passionate drive for the health sector accounted for the choice of Kwara as the first state to receive the new and effective LLIN and SMC/ITN nets.
“Before the end of the year, our Executive Director will organize a mission to visit Kwara. He wants to visit Kwara because of all the successes that we have been having.
“It is not only the Global Fund secretariat, but the whole world is telling good stories about Kwara, on the story of Kwara regarding the successes and elimination of Malaria in Kwara.
“This (first-of-its-kind event) is to compensate for your effort in
mobilizing your colleagues and health workforce in putting some resources into this campaign.
“Kwara is one of the best states playing its part by putting its
counterpart resources as and when due. It has been quite exemplary,” he said.
Highlights of the event were the symbolic presentation of
insecticide-treated Nets to some families in the state and the Governor demonstrates the use of the net by briefly sleeping in it.
The Governor had earlier received on a courtesy visit a delegation comprising representatives of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and the Team Lead for the Global Fund Programme Management Unit for the National Malaria Elimination Programme,
Federal Ministry of Health Dr. Issa Kawu.
The delegation also includes Nigeria’s 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, and Secretary to the State Government Prince Abdulkadir Mahe Aliyu.
Others on hand to receive the delegation were the 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.
END.
