….seeks collaboration
Civil Society for Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition on Friday decried dysfunctional health facilities, out-of-pocket for high costs associated with frequent illnesses as part of obstacles to Malaria elimination in Nigeria.
According to a brief delivered by state Chairperson Hassana Maisanda, at media meeting on Global Fund malaria community-led monitoring project, population and access to healthcare play pivotal role.
Periscope Nigeria reports that the grant is presently being implemented in the 13 GF-supported states namely Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, Taraba, Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa, Ogun, Osun and Delta States, covering eight LGAs in each state. In Gombe state, the selected LGAs are Akko, Yamaltu Deba, Kaltungo, Kwami, Dukku, Billiri, Funakayi and Balanga.
Maisanda said, “The obstacles inhibiting Malaria elimination in Nigeria include but not limited to the political, social, and economic situations. The society, political economy, history, culture and the social environment, all have impacts on the nature of disease, population health and their access to healthcare. Also, limited and dysfunctional health facilities in the places where the vulnerable population live pose a problem to seeking care in a timely manner and receiving preventive education.”
She disclosed that Nigeria’s climatic condition of high temperatures and heavy rainfalls encourage mosquito breeding and malaria, as well as increase mosquito population and transmission dynamics, urging Gombe residents to embrace Insecticide-Treated Nets. “These conditions promote mosquito bites and malaria transmission year-round especially to people living in swampy and unhygienic environments.
To combat the increasing incidence rate of malaria, urgent actions and collective effort from the public are necessary. The use of Insecticide-Treated Nets is crucial as they serve as physical barriers against mosquitoes, reducing the risk of infection, particularly for vulnerable,” Maisanda added.
The State Chairperson noted that for Nigeria to progress in the control and elimination of malaria, it should implement a combination of measures that include mosquito avoidance, improved access to diagnostics and treatment, health education and promotion and community partnership, adding “We therefore call on governments, private sector and other stakeholders especially National Health Insurance programme enjoyed by the formal sector should be extended to other citizens of Nigeria, particularly the poor and most vulnerable. The poor often are less educated and unemployed and consequently lack the ability to pay out-of-pocket for high costs associated with frequent illnesses.”
Also speaking, Programme Officer Samuel Chuwang, disclosed that Community-led monitoring project would round off this month, adding that “the project has recorded tremendous success in the eight Local Government Areas of Gombe State in 16 communities. The project comes to an end this month. We are going into another phase of the project.”
On his part, Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation Officer of the Gombe State Malaria Elimination Programme, Ahmed Buba, said prior to 2020 budget the state allocated N100,000 for combat of malaria, adding that the current administration has shown more zeal to towards the combat of malaria.
He said, “Before 2020 Gombe State Government was not committed but now its different, N100,000 used to be on the budget but now for this year alone the state has spent over N50m now. So you see there is commitment on the part of government because of this Global Fund has asked that the state alongside Kwara become sub recipient before now it was done by supporting partners.”
