Malaria Elimination Campaign Starts Dec

The Rivers State Government says that its Integrated Malaria Elimination Campaign programme would commence in the 23 local government areas of the state in December.

Under the scheme, the Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets would be distributed to indigenes free.

Experts from the Republic of Cuba have established a bio-larvicide factory from where chemicals would be produced to fumigate areas infected by mosquito.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker,  disclosed this  Friday at Ozuaha, Ikwerre Local Government Area during the handing over ceremony of an ultra-modern primary health centre constructed by the state government in the community.

According to him, equipment for the malaria elimination programme from Cuba had arrived at the port and were being cleared for the take-off of the programme in December.

The state government and health experts from Cuba signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) on the project in November 2009 in Port Harcourt.  

Parker later kicked off the state rally on the implementation of the National Immunisation Plus Day, the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week Campaign. He also urged the people to actively participate in the exercise.

 “In 2007 immunisation statistics showed that Rivers was below 40 per cent coverage, in 2010 we are above 80 per cent, but we are not resting until we hit 100 per cent compliance,’’ the commissioner said.  

He said that during the week-long exercise, health workers would distribute mosquito nets, de-worm children and also administer oral polio vaccines to children under age five.  

Parker explained that enough and qualified health workers had been deployed to carry-out the exercise in the state.

He urged the people to not only take part in the exercise, but always take advantage of services of workers at the primary health centre.

Also speaking, Mr Clement Chibuike, the Community Development Committee Chairman of Ozuaha, thanked the state government for constructing a health centre, primary school and roads in the community in the last three years.