By Daniel Tyokua
The Department of Public Health, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said a total of 914, 993 eligible children in the territory will be reached with anti-malaria medicines.
Director, FCT Public Health, Dr Saddiq Abdulrahman disclosed this during FCT Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention 2023 campaign media Parley and AMAC flag Off in Abuja, yesterday.
He said with the support from malaria consortium (MC) Nigeria, 9,000 persons that live in different Abuja host communities will serve as frontline implementers, who are expected to drive the process.
The Director who was represented by Mrs Hauwa Ibrahim, Head of Health Promotion, noted that 2023 Malaria campaign have been well thought out to tackle all the identified shortcomings of the past year.
“To ensure the successful implementation of the seasonal malaria Chemo-prevention (SMC), the FCTA Department of Public Health with support from Malaria Consortium has engaged about 9,000 people who live in different host communities as frontline implementers, who are expected to reach 914, 993 eligible children in the FCT with the anti -malaria medicines”
Officials of the Department, representative of Malaria Consortium and other stakeholders, said Malaria parasite has remained endemic in many rural areas of the territory.
According to him, ” SMC commenced in the FCT in 2022, and a low coverage of 66 % of eligible children was recorded, against the WHO recommendation of at least 80%.
“This was largely due to the limited reach( denial of access of the SMC team to some quarters and places; like barracks, gated estates, markets, etc) and non-compliance of some parents “
For Dr Modupe Adeyinka, Director of Primary Healthcare in Abuja Municipal Area Council ( AMAC), who officially flagged off the Campaign , said the team have been well trained to reach even the hard to reach areas.
Adeyinka also urged all stakeholders to help mobilise support for the acceptance of the anti malaria drugs at rural communities.
She said: ” we solicit the support of the media, community, religious leaders and other stakeholders to support awareness creation about SMC in communities, churches and Mosque.
“we also call for social mobilization to increasing acceptance of the anti malaria drugs”
One of the Senior Health Education Officers, Mary Caleb, added that the Media was very critical in the fight against Malaria, following the important role it plays in information dissemination.
Caleb urged media professional to partner with the Public Health Department and other stakeholders in eradicating the menace.
