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Kogi govt allocates over ₦4bn to malaria prevention— Gov Ododo

The Kogi State Government has earmarked more than ₦4 billion for malaria prevention as part of efforts to improve healthcare services and curb the spread of the disease.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo made this known on Tuesday during the launch of a statewide malaria prevention campaign, which includes the distribution of free anti-malaria drugs, rapid diagnostic test kits, and over three million insecticide-treated nets to health facilities.

Speaking at the Government House in Lokoja, Governor Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enhancing public health, stressing that malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death in Nigeria.He urged communities, traditional rulers, and healthcare professionals to support the initiative to ensure widespread impact.

A statement signed by his  Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah , said Governor Ododo emphasized that malaria affects everyone and called for collective efforts to eradicate the disease, which he noted continues to claim the lives of thousands of people in Nigeria.

Governor Ododo also highlighted alarming statistics from the 2024 World Malaria Report, which revealed that “Africa accounted for 94% of global malaria cases in 2023, with Nigeria contributing 30% of the 5,970 deaths recorded.

He further noted Kogi State’s malaria prevalence of 16% exceeds the national target of less than 10%, necessitating urgent intervention by all stakeholders.

The governor stressed the importance of ensuring that these supplies get to communities and people for which they are meant to improve health outcomes, noting that the items are not for sale and anyone found guilty of diverting them will be held accountable.

According to the Governor, the intervention, supported by the Islamic Development Bank, includes over 10,000 cartons of anti-malaria drugs and test kits containing more than 1 million doses for children and nearly 2 million doses for adults, adding that the supplies will be distributed to 536 government health facilities across the state, including primary healthcare centers, general hospitals, and teaching hospitals.

Governor Ododo commended  healthcare workers in the state for their efforts in improving healthcare outcomes in rural areas, describing them as soldiers battling diseases on the frontlines.

He urged traditional rulers, NGOs, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to join hands with the government in ensuring the success of the initiative.

The Governor further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the health sector as a critical pillar of the development agenda of the Kogi state government under his leadership.

He expressed confidence that the initiative, alongside federal government healthcare reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would significantly reduce malaria prevalence and improve the quality of lives of the people of Kogi State.

Earlier, the commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams emphasized the importance of the malaria prevention programme which he said is to ensure that every household has access to malaria test kits, drugs, insecticide-treated nets, and other preventive measures.

He noted that the intervention is free and focuses on community engagement, describing it as a comprehensive strategy to combat malaria effectively across Kogi State.

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