The Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Ejemot Esu says the administration of Senator Ben Ayade is committed to supporting all necessary measures and partners in ensuring that Malaria is eliminated in the State.
Professor Esu made the assertion while performing the State Official flag off of 2019 Mass Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets Distribution Campaign at Ikot Nakanda, Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
The Deputy Governor said, the fact that malaria is a killer disease second to HIV/AIDS and its proven co-relationship with a wide range of other diseases, calls for global efforts for its elimination.
He called on all members of the public and Security Agencies to maximally participate in this exercise to ensure that it is peacefully conducted and call on household members to endeavor to redeem their nets soon and imbibe the culture of sleeping inside the net.
Professor Esu maintained that, the State House of Assembly will soon pass a law against the misuse of mosquito nets for gardening, fishing and other unwholesome practices in the communities.
The Deputy Governor thanked the President Malaria Initiative (PMI) USAID, the Federal Government of Nigeria through National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) for the donation of over 2.5 million Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets in the State.
The wife of the State Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade represented by the former Commissioner for Health Dr. Inyang Asibong expressed her strong passion for Child and Maternal Health adding that she would spare no efforts in ensuring that, women and children receive the best of care in the state through her pet project “The Mediatrix Foundation”.
She pointed out that, more than 90% of all Cross Riverians are at risk of Malaria and almost everyone suffers at least a bout of it every year.
Dr. Linda Ayade therefore informed the women, especially the pregnant women that regular use of the LLINs is a sure way to reducing Malaria deaths by 20 percent and Malaria incidence by 50 percent in children less than five years of age in the state.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health Dr Joseph Bassey stated that, about 2.4 million Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets worth more than 2.3 billion naira has been shipped into the State for this year’s exercise.
Dr Bassey maintained that, in Nigeria, 92 percent of the population are at risk, contributing to an estimated 11 percent of Maternal Mortality and 30 percent under 5 mortality as well as 60 percent of outpatient visit in our health facilities.
On her part the Head of Local Government Administration, Akpabuyo Local Government Council, Mrs Theresa Ezima noted that, malaria is the commonest sickness in Africa and it is fast in taking lives.
Mrs Ezima emphasized that, all hands must be on deck to create effective awareness among the people in an effort to secure lives which is one of the cardinal responsibilities of Government.
She said that, the flag off ceremony is a welcome development meant to heighten the fight against malaria parasites in all communities in the area.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu on his way back from the flag off of the Mass Distribution of LLINs Campaign, witnessed an accident scene involving a motorcyclist and a passenger Bus, where 3 persons were seriously affected.
Professor Esu however intervened and directed his men in the convoy to convey the victims immediately to the General Hospital for Medical Attention.
He further directed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Health Dr Joseph Bassey to take charge of the situation at the Hospital.
Kebeh Eteng , Deputy Governor press unit, Calabar.
