EKSG Distributes Over 2000 Nets To Mark 2021 World Malaria Day
The Ekiti State government has disclosed its resolve to stop the scourge of malaria in the state while advocating concerted efforts by citizens and stakeholders towards putting an end to the killer disease in our Society.
The commissioner for Health and Human Services Dr. Oyebanji Filani stated this while addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti to commemorate this year World Malaria day. He noted that deaths from Malaria are preventable deaths.
Dr Filani disclosed that with available statistics, as at 2018, the prevalence of malaria in the state was 32% putting the state among the high burden state in Nigeria.
“According to World Health Organization (WHO) Malaria related absenteeism and productivity losses cost Nigeria an estimated $1.1 billion every year”.
The commissioner stated that the theme for this year commemoration which is “Zero Malaria- Draw the Line Against Malaria” serves as a reminder to us that every Malaria is preventable, every Malaria death is intolerable and a Malaria -free future is possible.
“This theme is a clear call to action for us as a state to double all efforts towards putting an end to Malaria in Ekiti state”. He said.
The health boss stressed that the state Malaria elimination programme was already targeting the at- risk population such as pregnant women and under five children by distributing 2,300 Long Lasting Treated Nets across all the 16 LGAs today.
Dr Filani charged Ekiti residents to live in a clean environment by clearing their gutters, cut bushes around and use long lasting treated nets especially for pregnant women and children under five to discourage infected mosquitoes’ bite which he described as the major cause of malaria in Africa.
“We need to understand that Malaria is not just a health problem. It is a threat to our development .We must therefore pull out all the stop to ensure a Malaria free Ekiti state and a Malaria free Nigeria.” He charged.
