By Daniel Ayantoye
T he Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, has described Malaria has a major public health problem in Nigeria presently.
Adewole in his address on Thursday, in Ilorin at the flag-off of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets distribution across the 16 local government areas of the state, decried the high prevalence of the ailment in the country.
He, however, noted that though the scourge is reducing as a result of measures put in place by the Federal Government, adding that Malaria Indicator Surve record from 2015 showed a drop in cases from 42 per cent to 27 per cent.
The minister was represented at the event by Head of Procurement and Supply Chain Management for National Malaria Elimination at the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Ebuka Ekugbe.
Adewole said a total of 1.7 million nets would be distributed to all communities in Kwara, explaining that the Federal Government has adopted the use of insecticidal nets replacement as one of the key strategies of the integrated package to prevent malaria in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed noted that this is a collaborative effort of the federal and state governments to roll back malaria.
The governor who was represented by Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr. Suleiman Alege, pledged to ensure that the state government accelerate and intensify efforts in line with Federal Government agenda towards achievement of current malaria elimination goal in the country.
The distribution of the nets, which commenced on Friday, 29th of September is expected to end on Tuesday, 3rd of October.
Speaking earlier, Country Representative of Catholic Relief Service, Mr. Gbenga Jokodola, said the organisation has distributed a total of 16.5 million insecticidal mosquito nets across Nigeria.
Meanwhile, scores of Ilorin residents trooped enmass for the collection of the nets.
Our reporter who visited various went out distribution centres on Friday observed huge turnout of people.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Gambari Alimat who spoke with this medium at Ile Magaji Agunbealowo Adewole ward expressed satisfaction over the exercise.
The supervisor, Mrs. Ibrahim Fatimah said the major problem they faced is of people following directives as some people presented cards from other centres.
The supervisor of Magaji Irewolede centre, Alawode Abayomi explained that people with such cases were sent back to their centres.
At Balogun Afin compound, Ita Alamu, some of the beneficiaries also got the net while others complained of not giving due to unavailable cards.
