Abia Moves To Curb Malaria

Governor Okezie
Ikpeazu of Abia State, has said that his administration would combat malaria through increased distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets and anti-malaria drugs.
Ikpeazu who spoke in Umuahia, said that “the strategy for us to battle malaria is to act locally and think globally.
“Therefore, we will look at the possibility of having places in Abia where long lasting insecticide treated nets can be produced.
“We will reintroduce Environmental Inspection Officers, who will ensure that the people of Abia practice environmental hygiene as a culture,” he said.
Ikpeazu said that environmental management was one of the important and cost-effective strategies for the control of vector borne disease.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr John Ahukanna, who spoke, said that malaria “is preventable and treatable, but it still kills thousands of people and 78 per cent of them are children.
“In view of the statistics, it has become necessary to eliminate and combat the disease by preventing mosquito bite through sleeping under long lasting insecticide treated net.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of Umuahia South Local Government Council, said that the tempo of awareness so far created should be sustained.
“In the past six months, the council educated the people on measures to take to prevent malaria and the right place to visit for treatment of the disease,’’ Ukanwoke said.