The Nasarawa State government has announced plans to administer malaria prevention drugs to over one million children from three to fifty nine months, as part of its efforts to eliminate the disease.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna Jonathan stated this during a press conference held in lafia, the state capital.
Dr. Gaza Gwamna Jonathan said the state is targeting to reach 1,037,785 eligible children aged three to 59 months across all 13 local government areas with free malaria prevention drugs.
“With the support of Malaria Consortium and the World Health Organisation, we have reduced the malaria burden from 60 per cent to 15 per cent in the last twenty nine years today,” he said.
“To ensure smooth implementation, 11,247 ad-hoc staff, including Community Drug Distributors, Town Announcers, Supervisors, and Health Workers, have been trained”
Dr. Gaza Gwamna Jonathan said ahead of the fifth round of the Seasonal Malaria Chemo-prevention SMC campaign urged residents to get tested before treatment, warning that not all fevers are caused by malaria and cautioning them against self-medication.
He also encouraged the consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, calling it the most effective prevention method.
“The state government is committed to eradicating malaria and will continue to invest in preventive and curative efforts,” he added.
In a remark, The State Programme Manager of Malaria Consortium Dr. Kassim Musa-Khaled, noted that, the implementation of this years campaign began in June and it will end on October as well as expressed optimism about achieving the state’s malaria elimination goals with sustained stakeholder support to includes, traditional and religious leaders, parents and caregivers and members of the press.
Dr. Kassim Musa-Khaled thanked the state government for its continuous partnership in the past four years.
COV/Aliyu Muraki/Lafia.
