World Malaria Day: Rivers Blessed With Partners – Jaja

Ahead the World Malaria
Day celebration, Partners of the Programme have expressed readiness in ensuring that the day instills in every resident of Rivers State the need to shun all acts of exposure to malaria vector-mosquito, thereby, eradicating malaria infection in the state.
The partners who cut across the state and beyond and ranging from multinationals, private sectors, media, denominations, non-governmental organizations among others noted with dismay high burden of malaria in the state and pledged to partner with the State Ministry of Health for a free malaria state.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the one-day meeting of State Malaria Partners, Wednesday, the Programme Manager, State Malaria Elimination Programme, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Mina Jaja said “indeed, Rivers State is blessed with partners. We have amazing partners who are ready at all times for the fight against malaria and with them all, we can achieve our goal”.
Jaja noted that the state was one of the 24 states with high burden of malaria in the country adding that this was also aided by the terrain.
“This is a swampy and stagnant water area and because of the constant rainfalls it has made it to become a malaria endemic area”, Jaja stated.
She maintained however, that with the level of partnership the theme of the years celebration; “End Malaria for Good” with its slogan, ‘Yes, It’s Achievable would be realized in the state.
According to her “the National Policy on Malaria made it that everybody is a partner and so far, we are all working together. We look forward for a free Malaria Nigeria in 2020. By 2018, we should be consolidating on the gains we have made over the years”.
Jaja revealed that this year’s celebration is aimed at creating the awareness that there is more to the causes of feverish conditions in the human system than the malaria and urged everyone with such conditions to get tested and treated.
Also speaking, a business Communicator and Malaria Eradication Partner Mrs Patience Edosa Ogingo regretted the attitude of Nigerians towards the use of the Long-lasting   Treated Mosquitoes Nets (LLTN) saying “people used the net for different purposes of fishing, windows, linens and others. This should stop and the nets be used for the purpose it is meant for our own good health”.
The World Malaria Day comes up Monday April 25.

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