Society for Family Health, a foremost Health centred non-governmental organisation has announced the appointment of the First lady of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, Ambassador Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, as Ambassador to Lead the Charge Against Malaria.
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According to the statement, Ambassador AbdulRazaq will join the NGO in its efforts to eliminate malaria, via its recently commenced 2023 integrated Seasonal Malaria Chemo prevention (SMC) and Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) mass campaign in Kwara State.
The NGO revealed that through the SMC and ITN mass campaign which is the first of its kind globally, over 2 million Nets is being distributed through a door-to-door approach to all the populace of Kwara State while a total of 2,283,800 SPAQ will be administered to children aged 3-59 months.
“This is the first SMC/ITN integrated mass campaign in the world and it is a major breakthrough in health campaigns. A total of 2,292,209 ITNs will be distributed to the people of Kwara State through a door-to-door approach to all the populace of Kwara State while a total of 2,283,800 SPAQ will be administered to eligible children aged 3-59 months.”
According to the statement, the objective of the integrated SMC/ ITN mass campaign is to ensure that for every 2 persons in Kwara state, there is one bed net to sleep inside, and every eligible child receives a full course of SPAQ.
“Simultaneous household registration & distribution of ITNs and SPAQ commence from the 19th of October and will end 1st November, 2022.”
The NGO noted that her appointment was due to, “ her unwavering dedication to public health and a passion for creating positive change, Her Excellency will champion our mission to eradicate malaria and raise awareness about the devastating impact of this malaria on communities in the state.”
The group expressed optimism that the First lady through her appointment will help play a pivotal role in advocating for malaria prevention, treatment, and research efforts, using her influential voice
“As the Malaria Ambassador, the first lady of Kwara State, will play a pivotal role in advocating for malaria prevention, treatment, and research efforts, using her influential voice. She will support initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness, encouraging community engagement, and mobilizing resources for malaria elimination campaigns,” they said.
They however, revealed that her investiture will hold at the presidential villa on the 21st October 2023. stressing that the investiture will help create awareness and signifies community acceptance and ownership of the campaign.
In her response, Ambassador AbdulRazaq expressed her gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Kwara State Ministry of Health and the Roll Back Malaria Partners for finding her worthy of the appointment.
“I am delighted to stand in your midst as the Malaria Ambassador for Kwara State. I wish to appreciate the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Kwara State Ministry of Health and the Roll Back Malaria Partners for choosing me as the Malaria Ambassador for Kwara State.”
She noted that,“ Malaria being the most common Public Health problem in Nigeria affects almost all Nigerians especially children under 5 years of age and pregnant women, and so it should be taken seriously.
She also assured that in her new role she will use all her resources to disseminate messages on the use of Malaria Preventive medicines and insecticide treated nets and also work in synergy with other stakeholders to ensure the safety of children and families.
“As the Malaria Ambassador for Kwara State, I promise to use different channels and resources to disseminate messages on the use of Malaria Preventive medicines for children 3 to 59 months and the insecticide treated nets to ensure that these children and families are protected from malaria.I will also mobilize all the Malaria Advocates of the Local Government Areas who will in turn mobilize the people at the grass roots so that the percentage of adherence to the full 3-day course of SPAQ in this 4th cycle and net utilization in Kwara State becomes highest in the country. By the grace of God, I will work with other stakeholders to ensure that children no longer die of malaria, no pregnant woman has miscarriage or give birth to low-birth-weight child due to malaria and generally reduce the burden of malaria in Kwara State.” She said.
The first lady however appealed to the people of the State to bring out their children aged 3 – 59 months to take the malaria preventive medicine and also be available to give correct information to mobilizers and distributors in the course of the exercise.
“I urge you the people of Kwara State to bring out your children aged 3 – 59 months to take the malaria preventive medicine and also make yourselves available at home, provide correct information to the mobilizers and distributors, be registered and given nets. The mobilization and distribution period are from 19th October to 30th October 2023.” she said.
In her remark, during the investiture which was held at the First lady’s Office, the State Commissioner for Health,, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, hailed the First lady for her, “profound commitment to public service and a deep understanding of the issues affecting our people. Her compassion and advocacy for maternal and child health have been inspirational”.
The Commissioner further appreciated the immense contributions of Ambassador AbdulRazaq for her collaboration with the Kwara State Ministry of Health through the Ajike People Support Centre towards ensuring good health and wellbeing of children and women.
She noted that the various multi-pronged support has yielded positive results, including a drop in malaria prevalence from 27% to 20% in the general population and as low as 6% for severe malaria in children under the age of 5 years’.
Dr. El-lmam further stressed that malaria remains a formidable foe, as it continues to claim the lives of our loved ones, causing immense pain and loss, especially among our children and pregnant women.
The Managing Director of the Society for Society for Family Health, Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, represented Dr Jennifer Anyanti said “we believe that, with her unwavering dedication to public health and passion for creating positive change, Her Excellency will champion the mission to eradicate malaria and raise awareness about its devastating impact in the state”.
SFH was founded in 1983 but registered in 1985 by Prof. Olikoye Ransom Kuti, Mallam Dahiru Wali and Hon. Justice Ifeyinwa Nzeako.
The organization is present in 27 States across the country including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
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