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No fewer than 7.3 million beneficiaries have received the Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) across the 25 local government areas of Niger state, an official has said.
Mr Musa Zakari, an official of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), supporting the Technical Workstream for the 2022 ITN campaign in Niger state, announced this during the 2022 state ITN campaign debriefing in Minna on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Niger state in collaboration with NMEP, Society for Family Health (SFH), Catholic Relief Service and Chemonics, distributed 3.7 million ITN to households to fight malaria in the state.
Zakari disclosed that a total number of 3,762,873 ITN were distributed to 1,469,935 households mobilised using 2,502 device for the campaign across the 25 local government areas of Niger.
He said that the nets were distributed using the 2006 census projected to 2022 of the state, adding that 100 per cent rate of the ITN were distributed.
He added that 9,487 personnel were trained and engaged for the campaign, adding that 68 pieces of ITN were remaining at the state warehouse post campaign.
Zakari, however, listed the challenges encountered during the mobilisation and distribution exercise of ITN to include difficulties in accessing some communities due to peak of raining season.
Other challenges he said were micro plan population was more than the ITN requirement for the state and cases of alleged misuse of nets in some local government areas especially in Bida and Mashegu.
Also, Mr John Ocholi, the Campaign Manager for ITN in Niger, appreciated the Niger government for providing an enabling environment for successful 2022 ITN campaign in the state.
He said that the population of the Niger state was more than the number of nets allocated to the state, adding that more households were covered in 2022 than it was in 2019.
Responding, Dr Muhammad Maikusidi, Commissioner for Health and Hospital Management in Niger, commended the partners for providing free nets to residents of the state.
Makusidi, represented by Dr Mohammed Gana, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said malaria prevalence in the state was still high and appealed to the partners to do more to reduce malaria burden.
The total population in Niger was estimated at 24.2 million people in 2020, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Kebbi State Government says it has concluded arrangements to distribute 2.8 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) to households in the state.
The nets would be distributed in collaboration with the United States President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI-US).
The Permanent Secretary, Kebbi State Ministry of Health, Alhaji Hassan Ibrahim stated this at a media engagement forum in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
He said the state government in partnership with the PMI-US had procured 2.8 million treated nets for distribution to deserving households.
“The government is resolute at expanding investment opportunities in other malaria interventions and innovative programmes such as indoor residual spray, vector control and surveillance measures.
“While strengthening drug-based malaria preventive and treatment mechanisms,” he said.
Ibrahim said the state government would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to review mechanisms towards reducing the disease burden.
He said the last National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) indicated that malaria prevalence dropped from 64 per cent in 2015 to 52.2 per cent in 2018 in the state.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that another survey was in the offing towards 2023, and attributed the feat achieved in the fight against the disease to the visionary leadership of Gov. Atiku Bagudu, and support of the stakeholders.
“Kebbi government launched ‘Operation Stop Malaria’ amongst other laudable interventions to reverse the trend of malaria and reduce the negative impact of the disease in the state,” he said.
Earlier, Alhaji Yusuf Sani-Kamba, Chairman, Directors’ Forum Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), said that over 12,000 personnel would be deployed for the distribution exercise in 225 wards across 21 local government areas of the state.
According to him, household mobilisation and registration will hold from Oct. 1 to Oct. 9, while distribution exercise would run between Oct. 21 and Oct. 29.
He, therefore, advised the people to spread the nets under shade before use.
Also, Mr Sami Olaniru, State Coordinator, Breakthrough Action Nigeria, said that USAID was playing prominent role towards ensuring total eradication of the disease.
He said the media engagement was designed to expose practitioners to the objectives of the campaign and encourage use of ITNs at the grassroots.
“We want to re-orientate journalists on malaria prevention and control with special emphasis on ITNs, and also motivate them to develop interest in reporting the campaign,” he said.
He lauded the state government and other partners for their contributions towards combating malaria.
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Sokoto State Government to ensure that the 3.1 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) are not diverted to the open markets.
Dr Muslimu Gobir, the Director-General of the Sokoto State Malaria Elimination Agency (SOSMEA) made this known while briefing newsmen in Sokoto.
Gobir said that the state government has set guidelines in place to ensure that the ITNs are not misused for fishing purposes and other misdoings,.
”The transportation, storage and distribution of these ITNs would be under tight surveillance,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event was organized in collaboration with USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria as part of the implementation partners.
The director-general solicited for robust partnership with journalists in the state to facilitate maximum success in the distribution of the nets.
Gobir also said the state government has set upa planning and distribution committees to ensure a hitch-free exercise scheduled to begin Oct. 21 to Oct. 29, 2022.
He commended donor agencies for their support.
Gobir noted that government officials, non governmental organisations, community-based groups, traditional rulers, security agencies and journalists were included in the committees.
The director-general said that at least 15,000 workers would participate in the statewide campaign exercise, adding that the plan is to reach about five million people with the treated nets.
”The teams will go round for beneficiaries registration and cards issuance to the households from Oct. 1 to Oct. 9, 2022, then follow with distribution of ITNs using the cards to collect during the campaign period.
”Procurement and other preparations were conducted at national level between the Federal Government and donor agencies.
”However, in Sokoto state about N534 million would be expended as implementation cost, out of which state government provided N178 million as counterpart fund,” he said.
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According to him, malaria constituted 60 to 70 per cent of clinical cases in the hospital, with high prevalence rates in West African sub-region, while Nigeria had higher recorded cases.
He said the exercise is being conducted in every three years noting that in 2018 no fewer than 2 million ITNs were distributed free to citizens in the state and now plan for more in expectation of the times changes.
Earlier, Dr Abdulrahman Ibrahim, the Sokoto state Coordinator of USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, said Malaria a life threatening disease transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitos.
Ibrahim said experts resolved that sleeping inside ITNs is one of the best ways to prevent malaria as they formed physical and chemical barrier against mosquitos.
” Studies have shown that the use of ITNs reduced malaria incidence by 50 per cent in sub-saharan Africa, a region that accounts for more than 90 per cent of global cases.
” There is reduction of malaria prevalence in Nigeria from 27 per cent in 2015 to 23 per cent.
Prevalence in children under the age of 5 in Sokoto state is 32.7 per cent.
” One out of five deaths from malaria globally occur in Nigeria, an estimated 30 per cent of child morality and 11 per cent of maternal death each year are due to malaria.
” Ibrahim said.
The coordinator added the malaria is common cause of absenteeism from school, offices, farms, markets among others which resulted to lower productivity.
” Two out of four persons having malaria in West Africa sub-region live in Nigeria and over 31 million estimated cases of malaria occur annually in Nigeria.
” Malaria exerts a huge social and economic burden on our communities and country and billions of naira are being lost to malaria annually from treatment cost and loss of man hours, ” he added.
According to him, in order to reduce the burden of malaria, Sokoto state government with collaboration with National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) with support from United States President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI-US) implement ITNs campaign targeting 3.1 million nets distribution in the state.
NAN reports that the event witnessed presentations, questions and answers, as well as interaction on best ways to achieve overall results through media awareness and educate people.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Some residents of Damaturu have expressed gratitude to the Malaria Consortium for distributing Insecticidal Treated mosquito Nets (ITNs).
The residents expressed their feelings in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Damaturu.
Malama Maryam Buna, a mother of four, described the gesture as timely, saying the nets would reduce the expenses incurred regularly on malaria treatment.
She said huge amounts of money that could be used for other important purposes had been expended for malaria medication.
Alhaji Kawu Lawan, another resident, said he mandated all his family members to always sleep under the treated mosquito nets.
Malam Modu Ƙarami said he could not remember when he slept without treated mosquito net.
“Therefore, I hardly contact malaria,” he said.
In his remarks, Malam Sambo Goni enjoined other residents to make good use of the nets and not to divert them to other purposes.
For his part, Dr Kolawale Maxwell, representative of the malaria consortium, reiterated readiness to support the state towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He said the distribution was in support of the fight against malaria across the state, adding that sustained efforts would enhance the achievement of the target.
“Malaria consortium is a United Kingdom charity organisation that specialised in prevention, control and treatment of malaria and other communicable diseases,” he said.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
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Anambra has given more than 1.3 million households 3.9 million Insecticidal Treated Nets (ITN), as part efforts to control malaria.
The nets were procured and distributed with support from GiveWell Open Philanthropic Funding, National Malaria Elimination Programme and Malaria Consortium.
“No fewer than 7.4 million persons benefited from the free insecticide-treated nets distributed to 1.3 million households in Anambra.
“About 3,850,316 insecticide-treated nets were distributed to residents of the state between Aug. 7 and Aug 21,’’ Campaign Manager of the project, Mrs Olaitan Adeniyi, said in Awka on Tuesday.
Adeniyi said insecticide-treated nets had been proven by research as an effective way of preventing and rolling back malaria.
She said a survey conducted immediately after the distribution showed that Anambra had moved from 37 per cent to 53 per cent ITN usage rate.
“This is a mere few points away from the national target of 57 per cent usage rate,’’ she said.
Adeniyi expressed the hope that with increased media campaign in the communities, the state would be on the journey to meet the national target.
She also acknowledged complaints from residents who were willing to receive the nets but could not.
“The challenge is caused by a shortfall in the statistics provided on the population of some parts of the state which made the number of nets planned for such places to be underestimated,’’ she said.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, thanked the partners for adopting digital technology in the distribution of the nets.
“We appeal to the public to ensure that they continue to sleep inside the nets as it is proven to be a protection from mosquito bites.
“The ITN prevents mosquito bites, reduces the incidence of malaria and the cost spent in treating the disease,’’ the commissioner noted.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Anambra Government has expressed concern over the low usage of mosquito nets in the state, despite giving out 3.8 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) free to the residents.
Dr Afam Obidike, the state Commissioner for Health said that the government was not happy with the development.
The commissioner made the remarks during debriefing and submission of final report on the exercise to the state government by Malaria Consortium on Tuesday in Awka.
Malaria Consortium, an International Non-governmental Organisation, distributed more than 3.8 million ITNs across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, to tackle malaria scourge.
The distribution was done in partnership with the state government and National Malaria Elimination Programme, with funding from Givewell Open Philanthropic Foundation.
Obidike said, “Keeping the nets without sleeping inside them defeats the aim.
“As a government, we are not happy with the low percentage of people who after collecting the nets had yet to commence sleeping inside them.
“The life span of the nets are between three and four years and it is in your interest you start using them now.
”
He said that using the nets would reduce death of infants, pregnant mothers and people with weak immunity, as well as loss of man hour due to malaria and related diseases.
The commissioner appreciated the meticulous handling of the ITN distribution, including the use of technology during the exercise by Malaria Consortium.
“My governor is glued to usage of technology in governance and he wants the state to know more about the technological devices used by your organisation in the distribution of the nets in Anambra,” Obidike said.
Mrs Laitan Adeniyi, Campaign Manager, Malaria Consortium in Anambra, said 3. 85 million ITNs were distributed to 7.43 million residents of the state on a door-to-door basis.
She said that 8,503 personnel were engaged and trained across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state for the ITN distribution.
Adeniyi added that the consortium engaged another 84 personnel to ascertain if the beneficiaries were actually using the nets.
Mrs Uju Onwuegbuzina, State Health Educator, urged the people to embrace regular use of ITNs to eliminate the scourge of malaria.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Malaria Consortium, an International NGO, says the End Process Survey across the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra is to ascertain if beneficiaries of 3.8 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) are using them correctly.
Mrs Laitan Adeniyi, Campaign Manager, Malaria Consortium ITNs Mass Campaign, gave the explanation at a one- day training of 84 Campaign Monitoring Team on Sunday in Awka.
Adeniyi explained that four persons would be deployed to each of the 21 local government areas of the state, saying that their assignment was to randomly select houses of beneficiaries and ask them questions about the nets received.
“In the course of the assignment, the team will find out if the beneficiaries have started using the nets, and if not why?
“The objective of the end process survey is to provide a quick information on the quality of the distribution for informed decision making and follow up actions” she said.
Mrs Titilope Akinlalu, Technical Work Stream Advisor, Malaria Consortium, said the ITNs distribution which took place across the state from Aug.7 to Aug.20 was to eliminate malaria scourge.
She said the NGO might return to Anambra for another round of campaign but that the end process survey report would guide their decision.
Akinlalu urged the field workers to be thorough and accurate in their data collation, saying that the technological devices provided for them would give details on how best or otherwise they performed.
Mr Boniface Pupshep, an official of National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Federal Ministry of Health, said that past findings showed that some beneficiaries of ITNs did not sleep inside the nets.
He blamed high incidences of mortality and morbidity relating to malaria scourge on ignorance of most Nigerians to effectively use ITNs.
Mr Tunde Ibileye, Consultant to Malaria Consortium on Field Security Awareness advised participants on necessary precautionary measures in doing the job.
He told them to shun unnecessary arguments capable of snowballing into confrontation in the field but should apply wisdom while engaging the people.
Mrs Ifeyinwa Echezona, one of the participants deployed to cover Idemili North Local Government Area, said she was impressed with the meticulous way Malaria Consortium went about the distribution.
“First their policy that those who distributed the nets should be different from those carrying out the end process survey, is an indication that the group is a serious organisation to reckon with.
“I am equally happy that they are painstakingly involved in gathering data after the distribution because that certainly will show the true results of the whole project,” she said.
Chief Sunny-Neville Uchendu, Chairman, Orumba South Local Government Area told the News Agency of Nigeria that he was personally impressed and that his council had learnt a lot from the group on better ways to distribute materials to the masses.
“This group first embarked on micro planning before the ITNs distribution, and now they are painstakingly involved in post distribution survey, this is a good way to go,” he said.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Gov. Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger has inaugurated the mass distribution of 3.7 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) across the state.
Sani-Bello said on Thursday in Minna that the nets were provided in collaboration with some organisations to reduce malaria prevalence in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the organisations include the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Society for Family Health (SHF), Catholic Relief Service (CRS) and Chemonics, with support from Global Fund.
“These health interventions are coming at a time that we need to change the narrative of the healthcare indices for the improved healthcare of the people.
“And improve the quality of lives especially among women and children,’’ he said.
The governor directed the state ministry of health and its relevant agencies to close down all illegal clinics and hospitals in the state.
According to him, the illegal health facilities are responsible for most deaths in the state.
“Every life in the state must be accounted for and every death should be investigated,” Sani-Bello said, adding that such facilities operate without required manpower, capacity and equipment.
He emphasised that the ministry must investigate all deaths in such facilities to determine where it was caused by malaria or other diseases, negligence or human error.
In his address, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the use of ITN was a key strategy for the prevention and elimination of malaria.
Ehanire, represented by Dr Abubakar Usman, Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, said Niger, Delta, Kaduna, Taraba, Yobe, Kano and Anambra benefited from the 2022 malaria intervention in the country.
Earlier, Dr Muhammad Maikudi, Commissioner for Health, said that the distribution of the mosquito nets was to reduce the prevalence of malaria in the state to 33 per cent.
In her goodwill message, Dr Jennifer Anyanti, Deputy Managing Director, SFH, commended Global Fund and CRS for the efforts to reduce the rate of mortality and morbidity caused by malaria in the state.
Also, Mr Emmanuel Abuh of Information Communication Technology for Development, said they have deployed about 2,500 devices to ensure effective and seamless distribution of the ITN.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has attributed the 35 per cent malaria prevalence cases in Niger to low usage of mosquito nets among residents of the state.
He said this when he led a delegation from the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and other malaria control partners on advocacy visit on the 2022 Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) campaign to Gov. Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger in Minna on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Niger state government is collaborating with NMEP, Society for Family Health (SFH), Catholic Relief Service and Chemonics to distribute over 3.7 million ITN in the state.
Ehanire, represented by Mr Okefu Okoko, Head Integrated Vector Management Branch of NMEP of the Federal Ministry of Health, disclosed that Niger had 35 per cent malaria prevalence which was high because only 16 per cent of people were using nets in the state.
“A lot of work needs to be done, especially on net ownership and usage which is very low despite several efforts.
That is what we are working towards to improve upon in the state,” he said.
He said that Global Fund was supporting Niger state with N11.9 billion for three years to be used for different aspects of malaria intervention such as provision of drugs, nets, seasonal malaria chemo prevention and rapid malaria test kits.
He appealed to the state government to pay it’s counterpart funds of N1.7 billion to ensure that malaria parasite prevalence was reduced below 10 per cent before 2025 and reduce mortality.
Responding, Bello commended NMEP and other malaria control partners for donating over 3.7 million ITN which would go a way in reducing malaria prevalence in the state.
He described the 16 per cent usage of mosquito nets among residents of the state as very low and pledged to provide support needed for the net campaign to ensure that the everyone got access to nets for usage.
Earlier, Dr Muhammad Makusidi, Commissioner of Health in Niger, said about 3.7 million nets worth N4 billion had been allocated to the state for mass distribution.
In her remarks, Dr Jennifer Anyanti, Deputy Managing Director, SFH, said it was supporting Niger Government to distribute 3.7 million ITN to households and create awareness on the nets to ensure it got to everyone in the state.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
