Kwara state government is set for the flag off of Integrated SMC/ITN 2023 campaign in Ilorin, North Central, Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Malaria: Kwara Govt counsels Beneficiaries on use of Treated nets
The programme which will hold on Wednesday, (tomorrow) at the Government House, ilorin, beginning at 11am is expected to be flagged off by the State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The event is being organized by the Kwara State Ministry of Health (Malaria Elimination Programme) in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health and other international partners and collaborators, such as WHO, The Global Fund, Tropical Health, Society for Family Health (SFH) and CRS.
Speaking on the level of preparation for the programme, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, disclosed that arrangements have been concluded for the distribution of at least 2.2million of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) to various households across the State as part of measures to eliminate malaria, which she called a killer-disease.
According to her, “The 2023 edition of the nets distribution will be combined with the ongoing Seasonal Malaria Chemo-prevention (SMC).”
Dignitaries expected at the occasion are the State Governor, Mallam AbdulRazaq, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate and the First Lady of Kwara State, Amb. (Prof) Olufolake AbdulRazaq, who is the Malaria Ambassador in the State.
At the flag off, Governor AbdulRazaq is expected to demonstrate the use of insecticide treated nets and as well distribute the nets and the SPAQ to the beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, a training programme for Community Mobilizers and Distributors (CMD), are being rounded off today (Tuesday), at various centres in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The trainees comprise of a recorder, a dispenser and insecticide treated nets distributor.
Speaking with journalists, the Coordinator of Ilorin West local government area from Society for Family Health (SFH), Dr. Adiama Babatunde Yusuf, disclosed that the trainees are to distribute the items for seven days in ten local government areas and twelve days in five local government areas while Moro local government area is to distribute net cards for five days and use five days to redeem their nets.
According to him, “2.2 million insecticide treated nets will be distributed to various households in all the sixteen local government areas of the State.”
Also in an interview, the Campaign Manager for ITN/SMC Integrated activities, Mr. John Ocholi said the treated nets are estimated to reduce all-cause of child mortality by seventeen percent while bed nets treated with an insecticide are more protected than untreated nets.
According to Ocholi, “The distribution of the items will run between 19th of October through 1st November, 2023 and described malaria as number one public health problem in the country.”
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