Health workers administering the free malaria drugs to children in Sokoto State. PHOTO BY ANKELI EMMANUEL
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
The Sokoto State Government has flagged off the free administration of malaria drugs to children under the age of 3 to 59 months.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the free distribution of malaria drugs was organized by Sokoto State Ministry of Health, through the State Malaria Elimination Agency in collaboration with Malaria Consortium.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal, while flagging off the programme at Arkilla Primary Health Center, admonished all and sundry to continually embrace the culture of environmental cleanliness alongside personal hygiene.
The governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Abubakar Chika Umar, said malaria constitutes the major health burden to children under the age of five and pregnant mothers.
He assured that the state government remain committed to the seasonal Malaria Chemo-Preventive measures.
Governor Tambuwal further noted that their concerns for the survival and protection of children of all ages was behind the establishment of Malaria Elimination Agency in Sokoto state.
He thanked all development partners for supporting Sokoto State at all times in the quest towards achieving the great task of eliminating malaria.
On his us part, The Sokoto State Director General, Malaria Control Agency, Dr Musilimu Adamu decried that malaria is responsible for 67 percent of all hospital visitation leading to 25 percent of children’s death.
Dr Musilimu, who noted that the Sokoto State Government has donated free malaria drugs to 575 health facilities across the 23 LGAs of the state, added that they will soon flag off the distribution of another 3.2 million mosquito treated nets.
Reacting to the gesture, some of the women at the hospital wards, said they remained grateful to the state government and all development partners for taking the health of their children as a top priority.
