From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Ministry of Health in Benue state in collaboration with development partners and stakeholders in the industry has said that over six million mosquito treated nets have so far been distributed to the Benue populace through the long Lasting Mosquito Nets, (LLMN) programme.
The Malaria Programme Manager at the state ministry of health, Susan Abege, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen during a motorized sensitization rally the ministry staged across five major markets in Makurdi town.
The rally was to enlighten traders and members of the public on the efforts to fight against malaria.
The sensitization rally which is part of activities to mark the 2024 World Malaria Day with the theme: “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable World”, started at the Modern Market all through Wadata Market, North Bank Market, Wurukum and ended at High level Market.
Abege who said the prevalence of malaria in Benue was on the high side expressed hope that after the indicative survey this year, the prevalence which had dropped from 43 to 18 percent would further drop
She noted that the effort and intervention of other development partners has helped to reduced the incidences in Benue communities, hence the continued sensitization to use mosquito treated net all year round particularly the pregnant women and nursing mothers.
She said “we have a seasonal malaria chemo prevent, an intervention that we give to children of under five, from 3 months to 49 months for the prevention of malaria.
“In 2015, we had a prevalence rate of malaria which was 43 percent but as I’m talking, Benue state has a prevalence of 18 percent so there is a drop in the prevalence. But we are conducting a malaria indicative survey this year and so we are waiting for the results and we know that it will further go down,” she added.
Also, the State Coordinator for Breakthrough Action, an NGO, Dr Victor Onah and its counterpart from the Presidential Malaria Initiative for state, Dr Uwem Udo, lauded the exercise which they said is yielding results with the reduction of malaria prevalence observed.
Udo said the 2024 World Malaria Day is another opportunity to reemphasize our messages in sensitizing the public on the importance of using mosquito treated nets always and the dangers of malaria parasite when infected.
They promised to continue to partner with the state government to fight the scourge of malaria in the state and to provide services to hospitals, primary health care centers in collaboration with the state government to eliminate malaria.