Taraba State Government wages war against malaria
By Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
The Taraba State Government has waged extensive war against Malaria, the major cause of morbidity and mortality particularly in women and children across Nigeria
Stressing the government’s commitment towards attaining the national goal of having malaria free Nigeria at the occasion of the state flag-off ceremony of 2024 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SCM) in Jalingo, the Governor of the state, Dr Agbu Kefas, charged health workers at all levels in the state to be more dedicated and committed towards achieving the successful implementation of 2024 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SCM) campaign in the state
The governor who was represented by the State commissioner of health, Dr Bordiya G. Buma also urged the general public to take advantage of the campaign and other efforts put in place by his administration to ensure that all eligible children recieved malaria drugs
In his speech at the occasion, the commissioner of health, Dr Bordiya G. Buma, said a total of one million, nine hundred and two thousand, two hundred and twenty four (1,902,224) doses of sulphadoxine pyrimethamine SP+Amodiaquine (AQ) (SP+AQ=SPAQ) would be distributed in the state comes September, 2024
The Commissioner disclosed that the distribution campaign would commenced on the 4th September, 2024 and end on 8th September, 2024 and appealed to parents, traditional and religious leaders to render their maximum support and cooperation to ensure the success of the exercise
Dr Bordia appreciated the executive Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas for his relentless support for the State’s health care sector, maintaining that the campaign would marked the fourth time (round) of Mass Administration MDA of SPAQ in the State
The Commissioner equally lauded the support of Global Fund, noting that apart from the SMC campaign, it has being supporting the state in the fight against malaria through CRS/NMEP and sub recipients.
In his goodwill message at the occasion, the chairman, Gassol LGA, Hon Abubakar S. Usman, lauded governor Kefas for making it possible for the children of the state to have easy access to malaria treatment and expressed hope that the drugs that would be given to the State PHCs, would go along way to help tackle malaria among children, especially in larger areas like Gassol LGA
The chairman called on parents to use the drugs extensively and appropriately as prescribed by the health personnel when given, to help eradicate malaria in the state
Meanwhile, the State Technical Officer for management Science, implementers of the SCM in Taraba State, Dr Kasim Kali, had said that they have selected only 9 Local Government Areas out of the 16 based on high impact and burden of malaria and rainfall pattern of the Local Government Areas
He disclosed that the targeted audience are under five population, in which for the recent round, they targeted about five hundred thousand children in the selected Councils
The technical officer who said they had been around in the state for routine activities which they are supporting the state across its 16 LGAs, added that they were preparing for circle three that would be coming up on September 4th 2024, haven successfully implemented circle one and two respectively.
