Admin|26 April 2016|6:55am
Cross River State Deputy Governor, Prof Ivara Ejemot Esu yesterday joined stakeholders in the health sector for the World Malaria Day Walk and celebrations tagged "End Malaria for Good". The city walk which began from the Millennium Park to the Zoo Garden Park, Calabar, Cross River State, had thousands in attendance.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor, Prof. Esu said, "it is another reminder to the health authorities in Nigeria that this is still one battle that needs to be won, even though gains have been achieved in recent years. He noted that the state government has made available relevant resources and have hired best brains to run the health sector. He stated that in the past many citizens would gladly wish that the problem of Malaria in Nigeria can be solved at the mere mounting of insecticide treated mosquito nets. But with the environmental conditions and associated ailments which have all combined to make Malaria a scourge for both the young and old, especially thousand of pregnant women and young children under the age of five, the statistics of death from the diseases remains high.
He noted that with the effort and strategies put in place by His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade, Governor of CRS, the battle against Malaria spread in the state will be a won battle and a sweet victory for Cross Riverians.
The wife of the Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade, who was represented by Mrs Rosemary Eneji, in her remarks noted that Malaria prevention and elimination is one of the top priority of the present administration noting that efforts have been made through Mediatrix Development Foundation to reach out to school children and establish Hunt Malaria health clubs under the Hunt Malaria Initiative. According to her, over 30 schools in CRS have benefitted already from the initiative as Mosquito nets and other commodities have been distributed to students.
Speaking earlier, the DG CRSPHCDA, Dr. Mrs. Betta Edu said the leadership under dynamic Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade is totally committed to the provision of quality health services to all Cross Riverians through it's well thought out interventions. In her words "Today is another remarkable day set aside to further demonstrate our commitment to ending Malaria while providing quality health care for the good people of our dear state. We have done TV and radio programmes sensitizing people on ways to end Malaria for good, advocacy city walk, free Malaria diagnosis and treatment as well as outreaches all across the state". She used the opportunity to thank all partners for their assistance in the state Malaria elimination programme. She assured the public of adequate measures taken by the wife of the Governor Dr. Linda Ayade in collaboration with the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency to sensitize and educate school children on how to prevent Malaria while creating young ambassadors who will take Malaria prevention messages to their respective families and communities. She stressed on testing before treatment for the management of fever, the need to improve indoor and out door residual spraying, keep environments clean and void of breeding sites for Mosquitoes and ensure women get treated with IPT while getting everyone to sleep inside insecticide treated nets.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health Dr. Mrs. Inyang Asibong said the high prevalence of Malaria deaths in CRS has been reduced following conserted effort from the state government and partners. She however pointed out that more need to be done to end Malaria for good. She called on all partners not to relent in their efforts in supporting the state.
In that same vein, the House of Representatives member for Ikom/Boki at the National Assembly and member House Committee on Health, Hon Chris Agibe intimated the people that measures have been taken by the leadership of the National Assembly and Federal Government to find a long lasting solution to the spread of Malaria in the country. He advocated for the use of DDT for out door residual spraying, calling on Cross Riverians to support the state government to actualize their set targets of delivering quality healthcare services to the people.
Free LLITNs, Malaria tests and treatments were given to people at different designated outreach points across the state.
Charles Ekanem
Media & Publicity Aide to the DG, CRSPHCDA
