Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) and Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) have commemorated the 2022 World Malaria Day with an agreement to jointly tackle the scourge.
Speaking at an event in Abuja, EHORECON Registrar, Dr. Baba Yakubu, said malaria remained a major disease of mankind and the environmental health workers would support the ongoing campaign to eliminate it.
He said EHORECON, PECAN and other stakeholders will continue efforts to eliminate the malaria scourge in the country.
He put the economic burden of malaria on Nigerians at about N2 trillion.
The Registrar quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO) as saying about 51 million Nigerians suffer from malaria, and it accounted for highest number of deaths in the country
He harped on synergy between the Ministries of Environment, Health and Agriculture, as well as other relevant stakeholders to enhance the fight against the menace.
“You cannot achieve malaria elimination without significant contribution from relevant stakeholders, it cannot be a one show event.
“The council is coming out to tell Nigerians that malaria is a public health challenge and those of us that are responsible for controlling it will work together, because if there is no mosquitoes there will be no malaria.
“So, the EHORECON under the ministry of Environment decided in collaboration with PECAN to show and indicate our williness, support and readiness.
“We are also ready to deploy our expertise, skills and new technology to actualise the elimination of malaria.
“It is in line with the President’s directive that all the tripartite ministries should work in the spirit of collaboration,’’ he said.
He said the inauguration of the
Malaria Elimination Council by President Muhammadu Buhari would put the country on a pathway to ending malaria for good.
“We know the economic hardship Nigerians are facing, if malaria is reduced, it will improve on the nation’s economy,” he added.
The FCT Chairman of PECAN, Mr Terungwa Abari, said creating strong awareness on the impact of mosquito to the health and economy of Nigerians would help to eliminate the malaria scourge.
“We must create strong awareness to ensure that everybody comes together to fight mosquitoes. We need to mobilise ourselves and make sure that we achieve the fight in the country.
“It is affecting us seriously. It has to be a collaborative approach for us to get rid of the mosquito.
“The involvement of the private sectors is also important, we will channel all our resources including our knowledge and work assiduously towards the fight,” he said.
