The Ekiti State government has concluded plans towards a seamless distribution and sensitization of beneficiaries on the proper usage of insecticide-treated nets received under the World BBank-assisted
Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project.
Speaking at the sub-committee planning meeting initiated to discuss modalities for the effective distribution and sage of the nets in Ado, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, explained that the move was one of the sustainable approaches towards protecting pregnant women and children from malaria disease.
Mrs Gbenga-Igotun, who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr Yekini Ibrahim, stated that the nets would be distributed to the targeted beneficiaries at the public Primary Health Facilities across the state.
She noted that the move was to further improve maternal and child health outcomes in the state as well as contribute to the national malaria elimination goals
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that the treatment of malaria for children under five years and pregnant women remains free in Ekiti State noting that the government was leaving no stone unturned at ensuring affordable and qualitative healthcare services for the people.
The IMPACT Project Manager, Dr Folu Ekundare, spoke on the successes recorded in the prevention of malaria in the state, noting that measures are being put to ensure that nets are used for the purpose they were meant for by the beneficiaries.
A resource person at the forum, professor Okoh, who dwelt on major prevention strategies for malaria, emphasized the critical role of maintaining a clean environment in the fight against malaria.
Prof Hillary Okoh explained that sleeping inside insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and improved health-seeking habits were proactive steps to protect residents from malaria infection.
Prof Okoh maintained that malaria was treatable and curable, adding that negligence in abiding by the preventive measures always results in severe complications.
The sub-committee, whose members include stakeholders from religious groups, the academia, the health sector and media professionals, amongst others, resolved on modalities to ensure that deserving pregnant women and fully immunized children at public healthcare facilities receive free long-lasting insecticide mosquito nets across the state.
