Borno state has been selected as one of the best in the country in relation to the control and management of malaria. The state has also been favoured as a beneficiary of the global fund on malaria, the commissioner of health, Dr. Salma Annas Kolo has told DailyPost.
The commissioner stated this at a press briefing to mark the World Malaria Day, with the theme, “To invest in the future and defeat of malaria”.
The Commissioner said that globally, about 99 countries have high malaria transmission, meanwhile, African countries account for about 30 percent of all cases. He said Nigeria accounts to one quarter of this, adding that according to the 2010 national malaria survey prevalence rate, malaria has killed 660,000 people, majority of whom were pregnant women and children under five years.
Speaking on the state’s achievements towards fighting the scourge of malaria, Dr. Salma said government has trained well over 1,300 health workers to ensure healthy society in Borno.
“We train 810 health care providers on malaria commodity logistics system, and also 405 health workers on malaria case management.”
She said that while working towards achieving full control and management of malaria in the state,the government had included distribution of about 20,000 long lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) during flood intervention in Mobbar LGA, IPDs activities on pregnant women during routine ANC as well as distribution of about 200,000 ACTs RDTs to 405 health facilities to about 47 private clinics.
Dr. Salma said to reduce or eradicate the vector, people must use their treated mosquito nets which the Borno state government has distributed to over 30,000 people last year, stressing that, the usage of insecticide and keeping a clean environment would also remarkably help in reducing the spread of the disease.
The Commissioner also said that the control and elimination of malaria in endemic areas was based on early and effective treatment of all cases, and a selection of preventive measures appropriated to the local situation.
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