The Sokoto state government to ensure that the 3.1 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) are not diverted to the open markets.
Dr Muslimu Gobir, the Director-General of the Sokoto State Malaria Elimination Agency (SOSMEA) made this known while briefing newsmen in Sokoto.
Gobir said that the state government has set guidelines in place to ensure that the ITNs are not misused for fishing purposes and other misdoings,.
”The transportation, storage and distribution of these ITNs would be under tight surveillance,” he said.
The event was organized in collaboration with USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria as part of the implementation partners.
The director-general solicited for robust partnership with journalists in the state to facilitate maximum success in the distribution of the nets.
Gobir also said the state government has set up planning and distribution committees to ensure a hitch-free exercise scheduled to begin October 21 to 29, 2022.
He commended donor agencies for their support.
Gobir noted that government officials, nongovernmental organisations, community-based groups, traditional rulers, security agencies and journalists were included in the committees.
The director-general said that at least 15,000 workers would participate in the statewide campaign exercise, adding that the plan is to reach about five million people with the treated nets.
”The teams will go round for beneficiaries registration and cards issuance to the households from October 1 to 9, 2022, then follow with distribution of ITNs using the cards to collect during the campaign period.
”Procurement and other preparations were conducted at national level between the Federal Government and donor agencies.
”However, in Sokoto state about N534 million would be expended as implementation cost, out of which state government provided N178 million as counterpart fund,” he said..
According to him, malaria constituted 60 to 70 per cent of clinical cases in the hospital, with high prevalence rates in West African sub-region, while Nigeria had higher recorded cases.
He said the exercise is being conducted in every three years noting that in 2018 no fewer than 2 million ITNs were distributed free to citizens in the state and now plan for more in expectation of the times changes.
Earlier, Dr Abdulrahman Ibrahim, the Sokoto state Coordinator of USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, said Malaria a life threatening disease transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitos.
Ibrahim said experts resolved that sleeping inside ITNs is one of the best ways to prevent malaria as they formed physical and chemical barrier against mosquitos.
”Studies have shown that the use of ITNs reduced malaria incidence by 50 per cent in sub-saharan Africa, a region that accounts for more than 90 per cent of global cases.
”There is reduction of malaria prevalence in Nigeria from 27 per cent in 2015 to 23 per cent. Prevalence in children under the age of 5 in Sokoto state is 32.7 per cent.
”One out of five deaths from malaria globally occur in Nigeria, an estimated 30 per cent of child morality and 11 per cent of maternal death each year are due to malaria. ” Ibrahim said.
The coordinator added the malaria is common cause of absenteeism from school, offices, farms, markets among others which resulted to lower productivity.
”Two out of four persons having malaria in West Africa sub-region live in Nigeria and over 31 million estimated cases of malaria occur annually in Nigeria.
”Malaria exerts a huge social and economic burden on our communities and country and billions of naira are being lost to malaria annually from treatment cost and loss of man hours,” he added.
According to him, in order to reduce the burden of malaria, Sokoto state government with collaboration with National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) with support from United States President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI-US) implement ITNs campaign targeting 3.1 million nets distribution in the state.
The event witnessed presentations, questions and answers, as well as interaction on best ways to achieve overall results through media awareness and educate people.
