Ekiti state government has called on the citizens to support the efforts of the administration at stamping out the spread of malaria disease in the state with proper hygienic practice.
The commissioner for health and human services, Dr Oyebanji Filani spoke on Thursday during an event organized in commemoration of this year’s World Malaria Day under the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services(IMPACT project) being implemented by the Solina Health.
The commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, explained that there is a need for the people, especially nursing and pregnant mothers to maintain good hygienic behaviour to ward off mosquitoes, which spread the disease.
He added that poor hygiene by the people has been identified as one of the fastest ways of spreading malaria disease, noting that the residents should do more by taking care of their environment with proper waste disposal.
Filani said that the administration of Biodun Oyebanji in almost two years has initiated policies towards providing quality healthcare for the people, including anti-malaria drugs and insecticide-treated nets.
He said, “When you want to get a malaria-free society, it is better to start with the pregnant women and other nursing women, hence the need we gathered here.
“We believe that if our women could be properly sensitised, they will serve as our advocate to the rest of the people. We need to have a clean environment for us to have a malaria-free society. It is not enough that you sleep under the net, it is also very essential for a clean and safe environment, devoid of where mosquitoes can breathe.”
On the government’s efforts at tackling the malaria scourge, the permanent secretary said, “The government has been doing well in this regard and we are privileged to be under the Impact malaria project which has helped us in advocacy and distribution of treated nets and drugs to the people.
“We are winning the battle and with the support of our women, I know we will definitely win.”
Speaking, the Project Director of Solina Health, Dr Ayodele Alegbeleye explained that in the last few months, the organization in collaboration with the government has carried out full-scale implementation of malaria interventions across 201 primary healthcare facilities in the state.
He revealed that over 700 staff in the facilities have also been trained including other basic and technical services aimed at addressing the scourge of malaria especially among pregnant and nursing mothers.
The state coordinator of the Word Health Organisation (WHO) Akeem Busari represented by Dr Isaac Adedayo said that “malaria vaccines are a breakthrough for child health and malaria control.”
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