The Gombe State Government has officially commenced its 2024 Integrated Insecticide-Treated Nets and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention campaign in a bid to combat the prevalence of malaria in the state.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the ceremony which held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Gombe, marked a significant effort to protect residents, particularly children under five and pregnant women, from the deadly disease.
Deputy Governor of Gombe State, who represented the Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, expressed the administration’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of the people.
He emphasised the importance of this initiative in reducing the malaria burden, urging all stakeholders to actively support the campaign.
“We are deeply committed to ensuring that malaria is not only controlled but eliminated in our state. The distribution of over 2.1 million ITNs and the administration of seasonal malaria chemoprevention medicines will go a long way in protecting our children and reducing malaria transmission,” the governor said.
He further called on the public to ensure proper usage of the nets to achieve the intended outcomes.
In an address of welcome, Dr Habu Dahiru, the Commissioner for Health Gombe State, reiterated the critical importance of using insecticide-treated nets to reduce malaria cases in the state.
Dr Dahiru said that although the malaria prevalence has reduced in Gombe State, more needed to be done to reduce it further and highlighted that with continued efforts and the adoption of ITN usage, the state aims to reduce this rate significantly in the coming years.
“ITNs are proven to be one of the most effective tools in the fight against malaria. However, to make a significant impact, we need every household to use the nets as intended,the state will intensify its efforts in public education and distribution of the nets across all local government areas,” Dahiru stressed.
Also, Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Shuiabu Abdulrahman, commended the commitment of health workers and partners involved in the campaign.
He emphasised the role of the agency in ensuring that the nets and malaria medicines reach even the most remote communities in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the Wife of the Governor, Hajia Asma’u Yahaya, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Asama’u Iganus, underscored the significance of protecting children and women from malaria.
She urged mothers and caregivers to ensure that children under five complete the full course of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) medicine and that households use the distributed ITNs regularly.
As the Malaria Ambassador of Gombe State, Hajia Asma’u emphasised the need for community involvement in reducing malaria cases.
“Every family must take responsibility for their health. By using the nets and adhering to preventive measures, we can have a malaria-free Gombe,” the message stated.
In an address, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Pate, whose speech was read by the Deputy Director and Head of Branch of Integrated Vector Management, Mrs Mary Esema, underscored Nigeria’s adoption of key malaria prevention strategies, including the distribution of ITNs and the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) programme. These interventions are part of the broader effort to eliminate malaria in the country.
Since the rollout of mass ITN campaigns in 2009, the government has been striving to achieve universal coverage and encourage net utilisation.
Pate acknowledged the need for improved efficiency in malaria control strategies, stressing the importance of innovative technologies such as the Cash and Access Transfer (CAT) strategy and geospatial mapping.
“These tools will play a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability in future distribution campaigns, with the aim of achieving faster and more effective programme management,” Dr Pate added.
Dr Pate also called on the media to play a crucial role in this initiative by disseminating vital information about the benefits of ITN ownership, utilisation, and management. He urged the press to help amplify the messages to all corners of the state, ensuring that the public is well-informed about malaria prevention efforts.
The National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr Godwin Ntadom, represented by Aishatu Bukar, highlighted the importance of the integrated campaign, aimed at distributing new-generation piperonyl butoxide (PBO) nets, with the support of the Global Fund and the Malaria Consortium.
Dr Ntadom noted that the selection of Gombe State for this intervention was based on entomological and insecticide resistance monitoring data from vector surveillance activities within the state.
“The initiative is expected to build on previous progress, which saw an increase in ITN utilisation among under-five children from 43.4 per cent in 2015 to 52 cent in 2018, and among pregnant women from 49 per cent to 58 per cent during the same period. Fever testing among children under five also saw a steady increase, leading to a reduction in malaria prevalence nationwide,” Dr Ntadom said.
He explained that the door-to-door ITN distribution, to be conducted in two phases, will run simultaneously with the administration of SPAQ to eligible children, following NMEP guidelines. Over 2.1 million ITNs will be distributed across the 11 Local Government Areas of Gombe State.
The National Coordinator urged the state to take ownership of the campaign to ensure its sustainability, while thanking the wife of the Governor, for accepting the role of State Net Ambassador.
Ntadom also highlighted the NMEP’s adoption of innovative strategies such as the Cash and Access Transfer system and geospatial mapping to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in ITN distribution.
He reiterated the importance of technology-driven future interventions aimed at achieving faster and more effective programme management.
The event featured practical demonstration of Mosquito net use
