World Malaria Day: A’Ibom Govt Harps on Use Of Insecticide Treated Nets
…To Monitor Abuse
The government of Akwa Ibom State has stressed the need for Akwa Ibom people to take seriously the use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) as a means to prevent the spread of malaria.
The State Government has also called on its citizens and residents of the State to avoid self medication but should rather undertake visits to health facilities for testing and treatment of malaria.
The Commissioner for Health, Professor Augustine Umoh gave the charge in an interview at his office on Tuesday while marking World Malaria Day.
The Commissioner noted that malaria is a disease which has a devastating effect in the society especially among children and pregnant women.
Umoh who stressed that the disease was preventable advised the people to change their behavior toward malaria treatment by not patronizing patent medicine shops but health facilities for proper diagnosis of the disease pointing out that there will be instant results and treatment would be given free of charge.
He stated that the World Malaria Day is marked to draw attention of the public that the disease was with the people yet it is preventable and treatable with the use of Artemisnin-based Combination Therapy(ACT) drugs and Injectable Artesunate for the management of severe malaria , and Sulphadoxime-Pyrimethamine(SP) for Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPTp) for pregnancy .
He said that with medication given free, one could channel his or her resources for other purposes which was the reason the government was advocating for the use of health facilities for the treatment of the disease.
On net abuse, the commissioner who called for its proper usage, said the ministry would continue to monitor and evaluate its usage as the over 3.3 million mass distribution was aimed at decreasing mosquito bites and malaria attack.
The Commissioner stated that the Governor Udom Emmanuel –led administration had continued to show high level commitment toward the elimination of malaria by providing a secured and conducive environment for programmes implementation.
“The remodeling. Renovation, construction and equipping of health facilities as well as recruitment and training of qualified health care providers are some of the giant strides of the administration,” he added.
Umoh with the theme of this year’s celebration,” Time To Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement, Act Now,” emphasised that there is need for sustained political commitment , and continued investment in malaria control and elimination in view of the rising prevalence rate of it.
The 2023 World Malaria Day was marked with stakeholders meeting, thanksgiving at Insight Bible Church, last Sunday, and sensitization in Itu Local Government Area.