Malaria: Osun Government To Embark On Distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets

In order to prevent malaria and bring it to zero existence, the Osun Government under the leadership of Ademola Adeleke is set to embark on the distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets.

This is as the government through the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation has in collaboration with the Society For Family Health (SFH), Catholic Relief Services, Federal Ministry of Health and the Osun State Ministry of Health concluded arrangements to embark on campaign awareness to the good people of Osun.

This was revealed during a courtesy visit by the stakeholders to the Ministry of Information.

The Coordinating Director of the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation, Olubukola Aderibigbe applauded the project organizers for the life-saving and humanitarian gestures towards the Osun populace.

She averred that healthy living for all and sundry in the state is one of the objectives of the Osun State government adding that taking steps to erase and prevent malaria by providing Insecticide Treated Nets to every household irrespective of status is commendable.

The Coordinating Director, who noted that the Ministry of Information is the information hub of the government applauded the activities of the facilitating agencies in the health sector and assured them of adequate support and partnership to create exclusive and consistent awareness on the distribution of the nets.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the ITN State Officer, Dr Olufemi Oroge revealed that the Insecticide Treated Nets were last distributed in 2020

Oroge stressed that it has a lifespan of about 4-years.

He further explained that the distribution of new nets to replace the old ones is to ensure that the target objectives of getting the net, which was specially designed for usage against mosquito bites and malaria prevention properly distributed, is optimally achieved.

 Dr Oroge maintained that mass coverage and usage of mosquito Insecticide Treated Nets is the most cost-effective means of malaria prevention, adding that the project is sponsored by Global Fund and implemented by the Society For Family Health in Osun State.

Also in his remarks, the Society For Family Health 2023 ITN Campaign Manager, Dr John Ochole highlighted that 3 million nets will be distributed to Osun households through the use of a door-to-door distribution method.

He stressed that at the last distribution, 19 per cent performance was achieved noting that the year 2023 exercise is targeted to achieve the 5 per cent specified by the World Health Organization Malaria Prevention agenda.

Ochole added that the distribution, which will hold for 12 days, will commence on May 15, 2023, and is expected to end on June 5, 2023. He said that the distribution would be executed by ITN officers engaged in every local government area of the state because of their familiarity with the people and their environment.

Similarly, the SFH Malnutrition Specialist, Mr Daniel Gburie further emphasized the need for media support through the Ministry of Information, adding that micro-planning is ongoing to capture the actual population before the major exercise kicks off, so as to ensure that no household is missed during the distribution and collection of the mosquito nets which he said is free of charge.

He urged Osun people to also imbibe the habit of keeping their environment clean as a means of preventing malaria. He added that advocacy engagements with other stakeholders have been put in place for everyone to be involved in saving lives of the people against malaria disease.

He commended the Osun government for its health activities saying that he looks forward to its counterpart funding. He then disclosed that Nigeria is a contributor to the Global Fund vision of eradicating malaria.

Present at the programme with the facilitators was the State Malaria Desk officer, Mrs Bukola Oyelere as well as the ITN Federal Ministry of Health Officer.

Also present were the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation Director of Administration and Supplies, Adenike Oladimeji; Director of Statistics and Planning, Ogundele Adedayo; Director of Grassroots and Public Enlightenment, Raphael Ojo; Director of Social Mobilization and Strategy, Segun Oyeniyi; and Deputy Director Press and Public Relations, Toyin Adeoye who represented Moshood Suleiman, the Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry among other officers.