The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme (Centre) and others during the visit on ITNs Campaign by top management staff of the Ministry of Health and its Partner on Thursday.
By Dianabasi Effiong
The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, has said that malaria-free environment is achievable in Nigeria.
He said this on Thursday in Asaba during an advocacy visit on Insecticide Treated Net (ITNs) Campaign by top management staff of the Ministry of Health and its Partners led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme.
He said, “We will be glad to be the first state in Nigeria to have a malaria-free environment, and I am sure that we have very capable team to ensure that the goal is achieved
“Tell us what is expected of us and we will do it to achieve desired result because a malaria -free environment is achievable in our country.
“I want to assure you that we are ready and whatever that is required of us as a state government should be conveyed to us.
“We are ready to participate in this campaign and to take the campaign to every nook and cranny of Delta State.
“A healthy society is a wealthy society; beyond every other developmental achievement by a government, if the citizens are not healthy then everything will come to nothing.”
He also added, “As a government, we are happy to see that you, as Nigerians in the health sector are carrying out your duties as lovers and keepers of your brothers.
“By coming to Delta State to carry out this campaign, it is a great assistance to us and to our citizens, it shows that you care about us.
“I want to assure you that the Delta State government is ready to partner with you to ensure that our people are healthy.”
Earlier, the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Alipate Mohammed, represented by the Director, Personal Management, Mr. David Oyeleke, noted that, malaria remained a major public health challenge and a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Nigeria.
He also said that concerted efforts made over the years by governments around the world, development (donor) partners including the Global Fund Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, were yielding good results, adding that it was not over yet.
Alipate said that through its investment, the Global Fund had helped to scale up antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV, enhanced TB case detection and treatment, supported malaria prevention campaigns, including the distribution of Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and access to effective malaria treatment in 13 states including Delta.
Also, Onojaeme, said that the visit was a significant high level advocacy visit and sensitisation towards the Insecticide Treated Net (ITNs) mass distribution campaign.
He added that malaria remained a major public health challenge in the State and across the country, accounting for a significant burden of illness death, affecting most especially the pregnant women and children under five years of age.
He said the advocacy visit was also significant because it was a call for action, and a renewal of government collective resolve to eliminate malaria from the society.
“Despite the progress we have made so far, there is need to double our efforts to eliminate and prevent malaria from our society,” he said.
He said that the campaign which started on April 23 would end on June 5 2025, while the governor would flag off the Insecticide Treated Net campaign on May 23, 2025.
Also, the Project Director, Society for Family Health (SFH), John Ocholi, noted that, it was the 4th ITNs campaign in Delta since the country started its Net campaign.
According to him, ITN, campaign is called the scale up for impact approach to ensuring that they have the coverage needed for household to be protected using the net.