Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed
By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has flagged off the distribution of 4.4 million free insecticide treated nets to households across the State worth N7 billion.
He stated this at the official flag-off of the distribution held on Monday at the Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Hall, Bauchi.
The Governor described malaria which is caused by plasmodium parasite transmitted person to person through infected female anopheles mosquitoes as a serious threat to life, lamenting that it is a major cause of maternal and child death in Nigeria.
He said: “This disease is a constant menace to our people’s health and prosperity. In our dedicated efforts to reduce the burden of malaria, the government of Bauchi State has joined hands with the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Against Malaria Foundation, USAID/PMI and other rollback malaria programmes.
“Our mission, supported by funding from our partners, is to increase access to insecticide treated nets and children under 5 years of chemo prevention.
“These nets are durable and cost effective as well as improving means to prevent malaria. However, their distribution is not enough. Consistent and correct use of these nets all year round is a key to shielding our people from the disease.
“Equally, the seasonal malaria chemoprevention protects our under 5 year old children from malaria all year round. Today, we raise the flag to this campaign signifying the commencement of distributing 4.4 million nets at the total cost of N7 billion, across the 323 wards in the state and the administration of malaria prevention drugs for 2.2 million under 5 year old children in the state.
“These were made possible by the enduring support of the Against Malaria Foundation, the United States President Malaria Initiative and The Malaria Consortium. We are very, very grateful.”
In her speech, the Mission Director for USAID in Nigeria, Anne Patterson, said that the campaign is being carried out by the Global Supply Chain, Procurement Supply Management and Breakthrough Action Nigeria in collaboration with The Against Malaria Foundation and the Society for Family Health.
She said that this is the fourth campaign that is being done in Bauchi State, explaining that it was carried out in 2010, then in 2014, 2018 and 2023.
Represented by Kola Sheniyi, said: “The difference between the different campaigns is that this is the first digital mass campaign in Bauchi State. For this campaign, USAID, PMI and The Against Malaria Foundation, have donated a total of 4.4 million nets required to reach over eight million people in the State.
“The Against Malaria Foundation donated 3.3 million of these nets while USAID/PMI donated 1.1 million. All these to the total cost of $10 million or N5 billion. We’ve also spent an implementation cost of about $1.8million or N806 million.”
She acknowledged the support of the Bauchi State Government through the State Agency for the Control of Aids, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria for the provision of over 22,000 personnel to support the campaign and also for releasing its counterpart funding.
“A lot of work has gone through the weeks and months for the success of this campaign. It started off with the planning and training at both state, local government and ward levels and finally, last week, we concluded the household mobilization activity.
“What we have left is very important and that is why we are here, for the flag off for the ITN Distribution. The distribution will take place for a total of seven days with two days of mop up, if necessary, and it commences on June 30th to July, 6th 2023. The total number of Distribution Centers where beneficiaries would go to redeem their nets are 1,554,” she stated.
Also speaking for the Malaria Consortium, Kabiru Algamawai, said that the Consortium came into Bauchi State in 2010 and supported 10 local government areas of the State with antimalarials drugs distributed to more than 75,220 beneficiaries across the State.
He said that in 2021, Malaria Consortium scaled up its intervention to cover all the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State and worked in all the 323 wards where about 1.8 eligible children from 3-59 months were reached.
Algamawai further said that in 2022, the Consortium also supported Bauchi State with antimalarial drugs for more than two million beneficiaries while in 2023, 2.2 million eligible children are being targeted.
