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USAID, Others Take National Malaria Slide Bank Project Advocacy To Benue
A joint team from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), and the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (NMOD-HIP) have paid a courtesy visit to the Benue State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Joseph Ngbea, and key state health stakeholders to advocate for a national malaria slide bank project, supported by funds from the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).
The team, led by Dr. Simon Ijezie from the NMEP, described the slide bank project as a unique opportunity for Benue State to both build state diagnostic capacity and lead the development of a critical resource for improving malaria diagnostics in both the state and across Nigeria.
The project, which will be implemented by the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Makurdi, and the General Hospital, Wanune, elicited an enthusiastic response from the commissioner, who stated, “You have my support, 100%.”
Since 2012, WRAIR, through PMI, has been supporting NMEP in strengthening and expanding capacity in malaria diagnosis in 111 secondary and tertiary health facilities across 11 Nigerian states.
Over this period, WRAIR has trained over 760 Nigerian laboratory personnel to become malaria diagnostic microscopists, and worked with the supported medical facilities to develop standard operating procedures for quality management in malaria diagnosis.
The malaria slide bank effort is its latest project, and led by NMEP, will be producing validated in-country malaria slides in Benue and Akwa-Ibom States for training, external quality assurance, and future research purposes.
Access to its own slide bank will enhance Nigerian self-reliance and capability in malaria diagnosis, ending the decades-long trend to procure slides from outside Nigeria.
Strengthened and expanded malaria diagnosis is a key tenet in the national strategy for malaria elimination, as it contributes to improved malaria treatment and, ultimately, lives saved.
“Gone are the days when every fever is malaria; accurate diagnosis is critical for effective treatment and elimination”, Ijezie stated.
PMI has been supporting malaria elimination in Nigeria since 2011.
To date, it has provided over $700million in support of life saving malaria interventions to end malaria in Nigeria, thus decreasing mortality rate of both children and adults.
For 2020, it invested $77million toward strengthening malaria case management, including laboratory capacity building and quality assurance of malaria diagnostics.
The governor has also pledged to upgrade the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Bille with a view to addressing the health challenges confronting the community.
Fubara made the pledge on Wednesday at the Government House, Port Harcourt during an enlarged meeting of key stakeholders, comprising representatives of the Federal Government, the state government and leaders of the community.
The meeting was held to review the situation in the community and explore available opportunities to save the people from the adverse impacts of environmental pollution.
Addressing the journalists at the end of the meeting, the governor acknowledged the determination of the Federal Government and its agencies to get to the root cause of the problem in Bille and ensure that it is resolved permanently.
“The meeting is in respect of the situation in Bille. You’re aware that there is a case of gas leakage somewhere in Bille and the people have been making some requests that the government should come to their rescue to resolve the situation.
“As a state, we have gone to see the situation in the community, not alone but in conjunction with the industry operators and officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. What we are doing today is an enlarged meeting where all the parties are sitting together to look at the cause of the issue and the most possible way to get the problem resolved,” he said.
Fubara described the outcome of the meeting as successful, stressing that more action would be taken in the next couple of weeks to ensure that the issue is fully resolved.
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, who led the Federal Government’s delegation to the meeting, expressed appreciation to the governor for his warm hospitality and efforts to address the challenge in Bille community.
Ekpo explained that contrary to the perception in certain quarters, the Federal Government has not been silent over the “gas seepage” but has been working tirelessly towards finding a sustainable solution.
The minister explained that as soon as the incident was reported, the Federal Government deployed experts to the area to understudy the cause of the problem.
According to him, it was difficult at first to understand the cause of the problem since there were no oil or gas infrastructure within the vicinity of the incident, hence the need to conduct a more detailed investigation.
“The investigation is still going but we decided to do a follow-up visit to the area to talk to the people of Bille Community that we need collaboration on their part so that we would be able to arrive at a lasting solution.
“The safety of the people is paramount. We can understand their anxiety, the worry and the danger that this thing poses within the area, but the Federal Government is committed to finding a lasting solution to the problem. The primary responsibility of government is to take care of the welfare and security of the people and that is exactly why we are here to go and see things for ourselves,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, also explained that as the regulatory agency at the centre of the issue, no effort will be spared in the task of resolving the issue.
Eyesan pledged that the NUPRC and operators in the industry were prepared to address the requests of the impacted people in terms of the provision of potable water and fire trucks to the community.
The Public Relations Officer, Council of Chiefs, Bille Kingdom, Chief Rena Dappa, had during the meeting, presented the challenges facing the community and pleaded for government’s support to save the lives and livelihoods of the people.
The President stated that the scheme is aimed at creating jobs, closing the country’s metering gap and improving electricity supply.
The President disclosed this in a statement on his verified X handle yesterday, describing the initiative, tagged “The Power Force,” as part of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expand employment opportunities for young people.
According to Tinubu, the programme will equip participants with practical technical skills and connect them to employment opportunities in Nigeria’s power sector.
“Through the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), which I established to close Nigeria’s metering gap, end estimated billing, protect consumers and strengthen the electricity market, we are opening a new pathway for 5,000 young Nigerians to be trained as meter installers and technicians under The Power Force. This programme is about jobs, skills and dignity,” he said.
Tinubu said the training would be open to eligible Nigerians who have completed their secondary school education, with a dedicated quota reserved for members of the National Youth Service Corps.
He noted that expanding electricity metering was critical to improving service delivery and promoting transparency in the power sector.
“When homes and businesses are properly metered, Nigerians can pay for what they actually use. When electricity distribution companies collect revenues more transparently and fairly, they are better able to reduce losses, maintain infrastructure, expand connections and invest in better service.
“This is how we build a power sector that is fairer to consumers, stronger for investors and better able to deliver reliable electricity to the Nigerian people,” the President said.
Tinubu said he had directed the Presidential Metering Initiative to work with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, and other relevant stakeholders to commence the programme within the next 30 days.
He encouraged qualified young Nigerians to apply, saying the initiative would provide them with marketable skills while supporting efforts to eliminate estimated billing and improve electricity access nationwide.
“I encourage eligible young Nigerians to apply. Join The Power Force. Learn a skill. Earn with dignity. Help us end estimated billing and be part of the work to light up Nigeria,” he added.