The Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde on Monday, flagged off the distribution of 5million insecticide-treated bed nets across the state.
The distribution of the insecticide-treated nets is to be carried out at 2,500 designated points across the 33 local government areas of the state, to residents with pre-given net cards.
The flag-off ceremony, which held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Governor Makinde expressed optimism that the treated nets would help to reduce mortality rate, especially among pregnant women and children under five years in the state.
Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Abdul-Mojeed Mogbonjubola, Governor Makinde said the figure to be distributed would go a long way in helping the state achieve the target of one net for two persons.
He assured of the commitment of his administration to reducing the burden of malaria in the state, as well as ensuring universal health coverage in a cost-effective way.
Makinde also restated the commitment of his government to providing affordable, accessible, and qualitative healthcare in the state, adding that he has put in place different health intervention programmes which are free, accessible and affordable, to the grassroots.
He affirmed that his administration would continue to reach out to development partners and well-meaning organisations, with a view to improving the health status of the people.
In her remarks, the Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Health, Dr Funmi Salami, assured of a hitch-free distribution, noting that the state had done a house-to-house sharing of the net cards.
The representative of USAID, Celeste Carr, lauded the efforts of the Oyo State Government in the area of health, saying the best way to eliminate mosquitoes that are malaria carrier is to put a barrier on them from dusk to dawn.
In his remarks, representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Mike Nwamdikwu, said the Oyo state government was, by the treated nets launch, joining the efforts of the federal government in continuously reducing the prevalence of under-five children and pregnant women dropping dead, due to malaria.
Representatives of partners including the World Health Organisation (WHO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Hacey Health Initiative, assured of continued partnership with the Oyo State Government on health initiatives.
Dominica Nwabufo
