By Abdulaziz Mohammed Malah
Malaria Consortium, in collaboration with the Federal Government and the Borno State Government, has commenced a stakeholder engagement in Borno State aimed at strengthening preventive measures and campaigns against the spread of malaria across all 17 Local Government Areas.
The Country Advocacy, Communication and Engagement Manager of Malaria Consortium, Martins Abantlehe, said the campaign is targeting states that were previously underserved in the distribution of malaria prophylaxis. He listed the states to include Borno State, Abia State, Kogi State and the Federal Capital Territory.
Abantlehe explained that the organisation would collaborate with development partners to tackle malaria and related parasites through the distribution of treated mosquito nets, noting that five million nets have been provided for distribution across Borno State.
The Permanent Secretary, Borno State Ministry of Health, Dr Shettima Maina Mohammed, commended the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria and Malaria Consortium for the intervention. He said the provision of five million mosquito nets and anti-malaria drugs would significantly support the state government’s efforts in combating the disease.
Dr Mohammed described malaria as a major public health burden that requires a collaborative and multi-sectoral approach for effective control and eventual eradication.
He added that the state government has also supplied anti-malaria drugs and intensified fumigation activities to reduce the spread of the parasite.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Borno State Primary Health Care Development Board, Prof Muhammad Adam, described Malaria Consortium as a reliable partner with strong community-level structures, assuring that the programme would be effectively implemented.
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Nnena Obulaforo, represented by Assistant Director Fatima Bukar Ali, said the “GiveWell Foundation,” in collaboration with NMEP, would support the distribution of the five million mosquito nets.
She called on the Borno State Government to provide adequate storage facilities for the commodities and intensify community engagement to ensure the success of the programme.
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