Malaria prevention: ACOMIN decries indiscriminate use of Insecticide-treated nets on farmlands
….. tasks Govt on increased budgetary allocation to Malaria elimination
By Chima Azubuike
The Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition, has increased awareness on the use of insecticide-treated nets, warning against indiscriminate use of nets for farming activities.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that most Insecticide-treated nets distributed to families have been converted to temporary fence on farms.
Speaking during a media briefing with journalists and Executive Directors of Community-Based Organisations in Gombe, State Coordinator of ACOMIN, Hassana Maisanda, explained that malaria is one of Nigeria’s most important public health concerns because of the millions of deaths it caused annually, adding that it could be mitigated through proper net
According to Maisanda, Climate plays a role in the transmission of malaria, stressing that there is a connection between weather patterns and the occurrence of malaria.
She said, “The country experiences high levels of rainfall between June and September, which leads to increase in the population of mosquitoes which in turn leads to an increased malaria transmission during these humid months.
“Malaria incidences thrive in areas with stagnant water, poor drainage systems, and inadequate waste management. Female Anopheles mosquitoes, which carry the malaria parasite, breed in sources of stagnant water.
“To prevalent an increase in the incidence rate of malaria, urgent action and collective effort from the public is needed. Sleeping inside Insecticide-Treated Nets is crucial as they provide a physical barrier against mosquitoes. These nets are effective in reducing the risk of infection, especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and young children.”
While lamenting the challenges bedeviling the elimination of malaria Maisanda added that “Government at all levels should increase the budgetary allocation for hospital infrastructure and equipment, implement effective recruitment and retention strategies to attract and retain skilled healthcare professionals and prioritize the development of reliable electricity and water infrastructure in healthcare facilities.”
On his part, State Programme Officer, Chuwang Samuel, said as part of a national effort to address the challenges of Malaria in Nigeria, ACOMIN is working with Catholic Relief Services on the ongoing Global Fund Malaria Grant, to continue implementing the civil society component.
“On the grant, ACOMIN is using the Community-Led Monitoring approach to engage community stakeholders to take ownership of health interventions, particularly on malaria, to identify gaps hindering effective malaria service delivery, jointly prioritise their needs, and advocate for improvement in malaria healthcare delivery,” Samuel added.
He disclosed that the initiative has brought about many advantages to each of the communities,wards where the project is being implemented, adding “These include increased ingenuity, innovation in tackling challenges, identifying and addressing the root cause of failed interventions; and enhanced accountability and ownership among others. The community-led initiative being implemented by ACOMIN has yielded successes.”
Also, Programme Manager, Gombe State Malaria Elimination Programme, Ubayo Ali, explained that Insecticide-treated nets should be used for the actual purpose it was distributed, stressing the enormous investment that government made its procurement.
“We distributed net of N1.5b, only net the operational cost was N1.5b in 2021. Between 2021 and 2023 Gombe State Malaria Elimination Programme we are to spend over N7b,” Ali added.
