The United State Agency for International Development (USAID) a Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) who has for long been in partnership with the Ministry of Health to reduce the maternal and infant mortality rate, promote reproductive health, expand immunization coverage, and prevent and treat malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis (TB) has in collaboration with the Health Ministry declare her readiness to begin the door to door distribution of the Long Lasting Insecticidal Treated Net to Cross Riverians soon.
Speaking during an operational planning meeting with the Permanent Secretary, the team lead Dr. Veronica Momo restated the Agency’s readiness to begin the distribution of the LLIN after a thorough review of the malaria program in the State. “A couple of years back we carried out this exercise with millions of LLINs distributed across the nooks and crannies of CRS, it’s about 4years today and USAID has seen the need to carry out this exercise again judging from the fact that the previous ones distributed has served its purpose. All modalities are being put in place to receive the first and second shipments of the products by October 5th and November 13th respectively with distribution to commence almost immediately.
“The campaign will kick start in six States with CRS being one of the States. The State is expected to design an operational and micro planning with a need for an advocacy planning where both the Police and Customs will bevisited to ensure a smooth and seamless exercise. The importance of this initiative is to continue to safe the lives of Cross Riverians especially pregnant women and children.”
Responding, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Iwara Iwara welcomed the team to CRS on behalf of the State Governor Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade with a commitment that the State is fully ready to carry out the exercise again as it was last conducted in 2019 when he was still serving as the Director of Public Health. “As a State we sincerely appreciate the support of the Presidential Malaria Initiative as this initiative of LLINs distribution to our people has remained phenomenal and life saving. As we all know, the long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) are effective against prevention of malaria and its utilization has been proven to save lives. Nigeria remains the country with the highest malaria burden in Africa, the awareness of LLIN in Nigeria is high, but the utilization is low and this we’ll work so hard to change especially in Nigeria as we’ll continue to sensitize our people on the importance to make effective use of this Nets.
“As you’ve earlier said, we’ll put in place a roboust plan to carry out advocacy visits, design an operational and micro planning as we’ve done in the previous years and will put all modalities in place to ensure a smooth driving of this exercise as we’re well aware of the requirements to successfully achieving this task judging from our previous involvement and experience.”
The Director of Medical and Dental Services Dr. Itam Essien in a vote of thanks appreciated USAID for their outstanding support to not only Nigeria but Africa at large in basic health care provisions. “USAID has for long been in support of the health sector in Nigeria to help reduce the maternal and infant mortality rate, expand immunization coverage and even prevent and treat malaria amongst other diseases. This initiative will as we’ve all said help in saving the lives of our people especially pregnant women and children. Today malaria has remained the common cause of death as such we’ll sensitize our people on the importance of sleeping under this Nets rather than using it for purposes it’s not meant for.”
With the Permanent Secretary during the meeting was the director of nursing services Dr. Pauline Obute, the director of administration Barr. John Odu, the director of pharmacy Pst. Dan Michael, the DPRS Mr. Casmir Ukpong, the director of laboratory services Mrs. Magdalene Nkang and a host of other dignitaries.
Ntem Chris
CRSMOH MEDIA
