Traditional rulers in Taraba state have resolved to support the ongoing mass distribution campaign of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) in their domains.
They made this known on Monday when the CSOs assigned with the responsibility of creating awareness among the people of six LG councils in Taraba North Senatorial District paid advocacy visits to them in their palaces.
They also promised to ensure the success of the exercise in their councils and various worship centers, the council’s caretakers committee chairmen, and religious as well as community leaders.
The advocacy visits were part of the activities of the CSOs to create awareness of the 2022 ITN mass distribution Campaign being conducted by the State Ministry of health in conjunction with the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and other malaria partners in the State.
The monarchs, who spoke extensively on the importance of the exercise, promised to work round the clock to ensure its success in their various domains.
The Taraba state chairman, Coalition of Civil Society organization, Dr. Joseph Gimba said the CSOs have been mandated to mobilize the communities “before, during and after the nets distributions”.
Gimba believed that sensitizing the communities as well as creating awareness of the dangers of malaria has become imperative.
Some of the monarchs and LGA Caretaker Chairmen who expressed their minds said they have already fashioned out plans to ensure the success of the exercise in their councils.
They reiterated their commitments to align their weights to those of the CSOs to enlighten their communities on the consistent use of the nets and also pledged to put in place adequate security for the success of the exercise.
Recalled that over 200 million ITNs have been earmarked by the CRS in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, the Taraba State government, and with support from the Global Fund for Malaria Project for distribution in the nooks and crannies of the state.
Our reporter gathered that the exercise which would be done using a door-to-door approach has been scheduled to be flagged- off by the Executive Governor of the State this week.
Jalingo, Yorro, Zing, Ardo Kola, Karim Lamido, and Lau are the six LGAs that the campaign is taking place and the council’s chairmen are working round the clocks to sensitize people on the usefulness of sleeping inside the nets that will soon be made available to them.
Sani Sulaiman