From SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Borno State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aliyu Salihu Kwaya Bura has flagged off the fourth Seasonal Malaria Chemopreventuon (SMC) campaign with a target to totally eliminate Malaria in state.
Performing the cweremony at El Miskin Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp, Madinatul in Maiduguri on Sunday, Bura noted that despite the COVID-19 pandemic that truncated the WHO health intervention on malaria prevention and treatment, the campaign was generally successful at 90% compared to last year when it was at 80%.
Dr. Bura added that the entire campaign was targeted at 2.1 million children between the months of 3-59 in 2020 but at the end of the third circle, statistics shown that, over 2 million children were mobilized and administered the anti malaria drugs as well as provided with mosquito nets.
He however thanked WHO for it’s support and assistance in several emergencies especially, malaria spread prevention, polio eradication and maternal healthcare services apart from the Facilities and equipments WHO has donated and provided to the Government and people of the state among others
According to him, WHO has so far assisted and supported in the state government provision of quality and acceptable medical and healthcare delivery services to the people which informed the launching of the fourth batch or phase of the SMC across the 27 LGAs of the state.
He also observed that 5 causes of mortality have been a great challenge due to the book Haram Insurgency but with the 10 point agenda where the Governor Zulum gave priority to healthcare delivery services and was working assiduously to provide a universal and standard healthcare delivery services.
Among the health services Government prioritized include free maternal healthcare delivery services , anti malaria treatment, SMC, polio eradication, etc pointing out that, malaria has been contributing to maternal mortality.
The Commissioner if Health further explained that the federal government has made it clear to every state should try to make it a priority to intervene in malaria prevention and treatment where WHO provided a lot of facilities and made the state government to make available at all health centers
He appreciated WHO for it’s efforts and concerns as well as urged them to continue it’s role and maintain the tempo while thanking WHO partners while acknowledging WHO partners enmassely for their support and cooperation despite the challenges in ensuring that Malaria is reduced to the bear at minimum the state and strategically free Elimination.
The WHO Country Representative Nigeria ,Mr. Walter Molumba said he highly appreciated the fkagging off of t fourth circle by the Stat Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aliyu Kwaya Bura and commended Governor Zulum for launching a 25 years development plan a d 10 years Strategic Transformation Initiative which he assured that WHO has already been a partner in this direction .
He also pledged continuous assistance and support to the state government and further Interventions on emergencies in the interest of the good health and improved mental and psychological health among others.
“WHO is the first in Nigeria on Intervention of malaria Intervention. SMC Campaign is an intervention to reduce malaria. And we are working now on Strategic free Elimination if malaria in the country. Hence in Nigeria about 20% has been achieved towards zero malaria and out target to reach zero malaria level in the country.
“Already reflections are available for what next step for malaria Elimination. A roadmap has been designed and we are optimistic that WHO will reach zero malaria and free Elimination in Borno state”, Molumba said
The State Coordinator, PHC, Here LGC, Waziri Mala commended the Borno State Ministry of Health for it’s support and cooperation in associating with the WHO in emergencies across the state.
He also appreciated the contributions and support of WHO to the state Government and it’s Intervention in malaria where over 2 million children benefitted from SMC Campaign program of the WHO.
Waziri added that so far throughout the program period, 5 District Heads within the LGA have been helpful and supporter making the program less stressful and tedious
Th Jere LGC Secretary, Al Amin Sheriff thanked WHO for it’s interventions on malaria in the entire LGA and state at large while describing the malaria Intervention programs as successful and beneficial.
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