Taraba State Government in partnership with the National Malaria Elimination Program and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) with funding support from the Global Fund Malaria Project is set to commence the distribution of over two million insecticide treated nets in the state.
The process of 2022 insecticide-treated nets mass campaign began with a media orientation organized by the CRS for practitioners, held in Jalingo.
The objective of the ITN mass campaign is to ensure that for every two persons in Taraba State, there is a one bed net to sleep inside.
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Program who was represented by Mrs. Chibututu Margaret noted that the use of insecticide-treated nets is effective for malaria control.
According to her, when properly implemented, it will contribute remarkably to the overall reduction of the killer disease in Nigeria.
Mrs. Chibututu informed that the earmarked insecticide treated nets will be distributed to the people of Taraba state across the sixteen local government areas through a door to door approach, adding that the distribution will kick-start on the 15th to 26th of September, 2022.
The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) campaign manager for the 2022 exercise, Mrs. Orezi Adhekoyibo said, that the objective of the media parley was to motivate Journalists in the state to develop an interest in the coverage and reporting on the campaign, as well as join the national crusade for a free malaria Nigeria.
Mrs. Orezi also urged participants to enlighten the people of the state on the need to imbibe the culture of sleeping inside the net, to prevent themselves from the disease.
Earlier in a welcome address, Taraba State Coordinator of the program who also represented the state Commissioner for Health, Mr. Kachalla Tanko revealed that the mass distribution of the nets is done every three to four years with the view to maintaining universal coverage due to the life span and physical condition of the nets.
According to him, about two hundred million insecticide-treated nets have been distributed across Nigeria.
Some of the participants, Simon Danladi Attah of Nigerian Television Authority, Hajiya Amina of Taraba State Broadcasting Service and Charles Akpeji of the Guardian Newspapers in an interview vowed to swing into action by enlightening the public on the positive impact of ITNs on their lives through reportage.
It is advised that the newly collected nets must be aired under a shade for twenty four hours before hanging and sleeping inside.
Sani Suleiman