Sokoto begins distribution of 3.1m nets to prevent malaria

The Senior Media Programme Officer of USAID’s Breakthrough-Action Nigeria, Mrs Fatima Shehu, says no fewer than 3.1 million mosquito treated nets will be distributed free to every household in Sokoto State from October 21 to 29, 2022.

Shehu said the Sokoto State Government in partnership with the United States President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI-US) and other donor agencies have earmarked N534 million for the project which was billed to commence with the public mobilisation and households registration from October 1 to 9 across the 23 local government areas of the state.

She said despite the reduction in malaria prevalence in Nigeria from 27% in 2015 to 23% in 2018, according NDHIS, over 31 million estimated cases of malaria occur annually in Nigeria.

Shehu said 2 out of 4 persons are living with malaria in in the country.

She added that over 31 million estimated cases of malaria occur annually in Nigeria, noting that malaria is exerting huge social and economic burden on the country as billions of naira are lost annually on treatment and loss of precious working hours.

While stressing that an estimated 30% of child mortality and 11% of maternal deaths each year are due to malaria, Shehu said prevalence of malaria in children under the age of 5 in Sokoto State is 32.7%.

She further appealed to media practitioners in Nigeria to put more efforts in their reportage on the causes and preventive measures of malaria such as the consistent use of mosquito treated nets.

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She stated that persons wearing uniforms with malaria logo would visit different homes to register and issue nets’ cards.

“These net cards will be used to collect free nets at designated distribution points when the net distribution begins, Shehu added.

She further urged the people of the state to support the fight against malaria by sleeping inside the Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) every night, saying mosquitoes don’t go on break.

Also speaking, the Sokoto State Commissioner of Health, Dr Muhammed Inname, said already the state government has already released N178 million for the implementation of the programme.

Inname, who spoke through the Director-General, Sokoto State Malaria Control Agency, Dr Muslimu Gobir, added that the state government would deploy 1,500 personnel for this year’s campaign and distribution of the ITN.

Speaking at a media parley organised in collaboration with USAID’s Breakthrough-Action Nigeria held at Specialist Hospital in Sokoto, Inname also advised the beneficiaries not to sell the nets, saying measures have been put in place to ensure the arrest and prosecution of any defaulter.

He added that active participation of the media would make the campaign on the distribution and usage of mosquito treated nets successful.

Umar Adam

The Star