Medical experts have arrived in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital to commence micro-planning activities for malaria intervention.
This is part of the efforts of the Kwara State Government to provide quality healthcare services for its citizens.
The team, led by Dr. Nnenna Ogbulafor, who is also the Head of Case Management for the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja stated that Kwara has always created a major opportunity for the team to learn, respond and improve on its strategies at reaching out to the public.
Dr. Ogbulafor, who commended the State Government for its impactful health interventions for the citizens, added that the level of responsibility demonstrated by the government, the health workers and people at the community level have always been inspiring.
Receiving the medical team, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Raji Razaq assured the experts of another groundbreaking and complimentary success to those already recorded in the previous years, under the leadership of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The Commissioner encouraged all the participants in the Microplanning activities to put in their best to sustain the top position of Kwara in relation to the health needs of her people.
Also speaking, the team lead, of the Society for Family Health, Dr. John Ocholli stated that with the arrangements on the ground, Kwarans should be benefiting from both the Seasonal Malaria Chemopreventive Drug Distribution and the State-wide Distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets this year, adding that both shall be integrated to ensure effective community coverage.
Dr. Ocholli explained that the team should undertake relevant training and put up a proposal to the state government on areas of need accordingly.
Expatiating further, he disclosed that payment of counterpart funding has become more important, noting that more responsibilities have been shelved to the state in its new status as a sub-recipient for global fund grants for malaria elimination in the state.
Present at the engagement and interactive meetings held at various locations in the state were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla, Directors, a representative of the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, the State Programme Manager for Malaria, members of the Malaria unit and Technical Assistants for the two Malaria based interventions.
Dominica Nwabufo
