By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
KOGI State Government is to expend over ₦4 billion on Malaria prevention campaign aimed at combating prevalence of the disease with distribution of free drugs and test-kits to healthcare facilities across the state.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo disclosed this at Government House, Lokoja, while launching the Malaria Prevention Campaign with the distribution of anti-malaria drugs and rapid diagnostic test kits.
The Governor also distributed over three million insecticide-treated nets to healthcare facilities across the state as part of his administration’s commitment to promotion of healthy living and wellbeing of the people.
Governor Ododo called for collective efforts to eradicate the disease saying that it spares nobody even as it has continued to claim lives of thousands of people in Nigeria.
He lamented over the alarming statistics from the 2024 World Malaria Report which revealed that Africa accounted for 94 per cent of global Malaria cases in 2023, with Nigeria contributing 30 per cent of the 5,970 deaths recorded.
Ododo further noted that Kogi State’s Malaria Prevalence rate of 16 per cent exceeded the national target of less than 10 per cent adding that present scenario necessitates urgent intervention by all stakeholders.
The governor stressed the importance of ensuring that the supplies get to communities and people for whom they are meant to improve health outcomes.
He stressed that the items were not for sale and anyone found guilty of diverting them would be held accountable.
According to the Governor, the intervention, supported by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), includes over 10,000 cartons of anti-malaria drugs and test kits containing more than one million doses for children and about two million doses for adults
He added that the supplies would be distributed to 536 government health facilities across the state, including Primary Healthcare Centers, General Hospitals, and Teaching Hospitals.
Governor Ododo commended healthcare workers in the state for their efforts in improving healthcare outcomes in rural areas, describing them as soldiers battling diseases on the front lines.
He urged traditional rulers, NGOs, religious leaders and other stakeholders to join hands with the government in ensuring the success of the initiative.
The Governor further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the health sector as a critical pillar of the development agenda of the Kogi state government under his leadership.
He expressed confidence that the initiative, alongside Federal Government reforms on healthcare under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would significantly reduce malaria prevalence and improve the quality of lives of the people of Kogi State.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams emphasized the importance of the Malaria Prevention Programme which is to guarantee every household access to Malaria test kits, drugs, insecticide-treated nets, and other preventive measures.
He noted that the intervention, which is a comprehensive strategy to combat malaria effectively across Kogi State, is free and focuses on community engagement.
