Akwa Ibom Gov’s Wife Flags-off N14 Billion Worth Nets Distribution in Akwa Ibom
The Akwa Ibom government has flagged-off the distribution of 3.6 million Insecticide Treated Nets(ITNs) worth N14 billion to households in the state.
The flagged-off which was performed by the wife of the governor, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel at Nung Udoe, Ibesikpo Asutan Headquarters, Friday, was witnessed by commissioners, permanent secretaries, directors ,implementing partners and Non-government Organizations, men ,women and youths.
The governor’s wife, who is the Net Ambassador, implored all households to make good use of the net to prevent anopheles mosquito bite which causes malaria.
She also advised people suffering from malaria to visit health facilities in time for treatment as lack of proper treatment could result in death.
Emmanuel hinted that four of her children who have slept inside nets since birth had never suffered malaria and therefore warned against the usage of the net in farms, but on bed when sleeping.
She extolled donors and partners for collaborating to provide the mass net distribution in the state.
The commissioner for health, Professor Augustine Vincent Umoh informed that 1,382 distribution centres in 329 wards of the state were to handle the net distribution and urged women to visit the Centres with their net cards to collect the nets.
According to the commissioner ,the mass net distribution was done in 2000, 2014, 2018 and then ,2022.
Umoh remarked that the new ITNs have the capacity to conquer mosquitoes,just as the Malaria Indicator Survey report showed that malaria causes 31 per cent infant deaths nationwide.
He emphasized the need for households to keep their environment clean, clear bushes , no stagnant water and other measures to eliminate mosquito breeding places.
The commissioner appreciated Governor Udom Emmanuel for giving maximum support in the process and also extolled the Federal Ministry of Health, National Malaria Elimination Programme(NMEP), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) ,United States President Malaria Initiative(USPMI) and partners.
Jiru Bako, deputy country director, programme operation, described the exercise as a huge investment which the agency was on ground to work towards effective execution.
He added that the mobilisation and security for the exercise was fantastic for a smooth exercise across the state.
The chairman, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Mrs Akon Asuquo lauded the state government for choosing the area for the flagging-off of the mass net distribution and expressed the commitment of the council leadership to ensure effective distribution of the net to households in the area.
The event featured a net hanging demonstration by the demand creation team led by the state director, health promotion, Mrs Margret Etim.