WMD: Get Tested, Sleep In ITBNs Against Malaria – RSG

The Rivers State Government has called on its citizenry to ensure they are tested, and also sleep in Insecticide Treated Bed-Nets (ITBNS) in order to prevent malaria.
Making the call on Monday, during an event marking the 2022 World Malaria Day (WMD), the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ndidi Chikaenele Utchay, specifically called on pregnant women to ensure that they adhere strictly to the call.
“We use this opportunity of the WMD commemmoration to implore the good people of Rivers State to ensure they get tested before commencing any antimalarial treatment, as well as sleep inside their ITBNS.
“We encourage every pregnant woman to attend Ante-Natal Care (ANC) and receive at least three doses of the Intermittent Preventive Therapy for Malaria before delivery”, she said.
Utchay stated that about 96percent of malaria deaths globally were in 29 countries, adding that six countries, including Nigeria, accounted for over half of all malaria deaths in 2020, “with Nigeria ranking the highest amongst these countries”.
Noting that the current prevalence of malaria in Rivers State is 11.3percent, which modestly ranks amongst the best five states in Nigeria, the State health boss accreditated the success recorded in the health sector to the State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
“Our resolve to achieve this target is by the intensified efforts of the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Wike, in ensuring equity, assessibility, and availability of care-facilities to achieve these aims by repositioning the health sector for efficient care services”, she said.
In her goodwill message, the World Health Organisation (WHO) State Coordinator, Dr. Okafor Chinenye, noted that while Rivers State was closest to achieving WHO’s pre-elimination phase of 5percent positivity rate, the State still needs to be back on its elimination track.
Dr Chinenye, who was represented by WHO’s Information, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Point in the State, MrAkuneto Reagan, said, “ going by the last national survey of 2018, Rivers State has the lowest malaria prevalence in the South-South Zone at 11%.
“This makes it the State that was the closest to the WHO threshold for malaria pre-elimination phase of 5percent slide positivity rate.
“However, it is the only State in the zone that did not see a decrease in its malaria prevalence between 2015 and 2018.
“Clearly, more still needs to be done to reverse the trend and put the State back on the malaria elemination track”, she said.
Aslo speaking, the Natural Ruler, Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa People, Edward 1, Perekule Xi, emphasised on commitment by key stakeholders in the goal of eliminating malaria.

Quoting the Director General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, he said, “with adequate investment, robust political commitment, and the right mix of strategies, we can make major strides against this complicated enemy”.

According to His Majesty, “such efforts as exhibited by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Company, and the United States President’s Initiative, which began the distribution of free mosquito-treated nets on Bonny Island a few months ago, aimed at making the Island Nigeria’s first malaria free zone, is commendable”.

The WMD is observed annually on the 25th of April globally, to raise awareness about malaria.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo