Akwa Ibom government has expressed concern over the impact of COVID-19 in its malaria elimination programme, saying many people could not be reached due to the pandemic.
It stated that the state malaria elimination programme has learnt to work under challenging situation, noting, however, there is a gradual improvement.
Commissioner for health, Augustine Umoh stated this at an event to mark the 2021 World Malaria Day in Uyo, the state capital
Represented by the state malaria elimination programme, John Orok, a senior medical officer, stated that sub-Saharan Africa carries about 25 percent of malaria burden.
Lamenting the wrong use of mosquito nets in the state, he said “we need to stem the level of abuse in the use of the mosquito nets through concerted efforts of all in using the nets according to the World Health Organisation’s prescription.
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Orok, who acknowledged the huge support for malaria programmes, lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for equipping health facilities in the state.
Acknowledging the theme of this year’ malaria day celebration, “Zero Malaria – Draw The Line Against Malaria, he said Akwa Ibom is the only state that got commodity supplies in all public health facilities across the state.
He urged households to take responsibilities by ensuring the use of bed net, keep environment clean, clear drainages and avoid stagnant water, particularly in this rainy season against breeding by mosquitoes.
Aside, he extolled implementing partners- United States Agency for International Development(USAID), President’s Malaria Initiative for States(PMIs), Breakthrough Action Nigeria(BA-N), for consistently supporting malaria prgrammes, including health workers, the media and volunteers for their roles in attaining zero malaria.
The state coordinator of BA-N, Bassey Nsa said the celebration which started in 2002 globally, saw the former President Olusegun Obasanjo gathering presidents and governments to declare that malaria must be kicked out from the continent.
According to Nsa, since then concerted and integrated efforts had been made to get rid of malaria in the country.
He stated that sensitisation campaigns, advocacy, and mobilisation in communities had been intensified by the government with the supports of implementing partners at communities to eradicate the disease.
But malaria, he observed still remains a challenge, especially in sub-Saharan countries, saying over seven million people have died of malaria-related cases.
Reflecting on the theme, the coordinator noted that the need to take more action became apt with a view to eliminating the disease and called on the media not to relent effort in the fight against malaria for a healthy living.
