Delta flags off distribution of free 3.7m insecticide treated nets for residents

By Donald Ojebo,

In its bid to safeguard the health of Deltans and residents alike, chairmen of the various local government areas in the state have been called on to do everything humanly possible to ensure the success of efforts by the Delta State Government to eliminate the scourge of malaria.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State made the call today in Asaba, during the official flag-off ceremony for the 2022 insecticide-treated nets distribution campaign against malaria.

The governor, who was represented at the occasion by the state Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije said council chairmen were expected to play supportive roles in the campaign.

According to the governor, the chairmen could support by using their positions to facilitate the quick resolution of any challenge that might arise in the implementation period of the exercise in their areas.

He equally called on traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders to mobilize households to embrace this nets distribution exercise.

“I am counting on the usual support of our royal fathers, traditional leaders, religious and opinion leaders in their engagement and mobilization of households to embrace this nets distribution exercise,” he said.

Okowa revealed that in the year 2019 replacement campaign, a total of 2.5m residents received the treated nets while in this year’s campaign, a total of 3.7m insecticide-treated nets would be distributed across the state.

He said that Delta State was investing immensely in the malaria elimination programme through the procurement of medications including rapid diagnostic test kits and insecticide-treated nets, which he said were given routinely and freely to children under 5 years of age and pregnant women at antennal clinics.

In her acceptance speech as Net Ambassador, Her Excellency, Dame Edith Okowa thanked the Federal Ministry of Health and Partners for collaborating with the State in providing Insecticide Treated Nets free of charge to households in Delta State to protect individuals and families from mosquito bites.

“As the Net Ambassador for Delta State, I promise to use different channels and resources to disseminate messages on the use of the insecticide mosquito nets to ensure that the various vulnerable groups are protected from mosquito bites while asleep,” she assured.

She urged the residents to ensure they get registered, provide correct information to the health workers so that they can be given the nets within the mobilization and distribution period between the 2nd and 13th of June, 2022 and ensure the nets are hung under a shade for 24 hours before use.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye explained that malaria was an acute illness of public health importance caused by a parasite transmitted by the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito with manifestations such as fever, chills, fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and general body pain.

He said that the most vulnerable groups susceptible to this disease include young children yet to develop immunity to malaria, pregnant women whose immunity has been decreased by pregnancy, the elderly and immune-compromised persons.

“To this end, the State had received over 3.7 million Insecticide Treated Nets donated by the Federal Government and Global Fund to be distributed to all Deltans in the State and non-Deltans resident in the Delta State with the aim of preventing the contact with the causative organisms of Malaria which is the Mosquito thereby eliminating Malaria from the State” the Commissioner revealed.