Malaria can be eliminated – Uduaghan

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has said malaria can be eliminated through clean environment and consistent use of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets.
Speaking while flagging off the distribution of LLIN at the weekend in Asaba, the state capital, the governor said that environmental cleanliness was critical to the success of the campaign.
He said: “Malaria is one disease that can be eliminated.”
He called on Deltans to ensure that their surroundings were kept clean to eradicate all mosquito breeding grounds.
The governor said that the state government understood the socio-economic effects of the scourge of malaria on the nation and expressed his administration’s resolve to ensure the eradication of malaria, especially in the rural and riverine areas of the state.
While noting that malaria does not respect class or status, the governor stressed the need for Deltans to ensure that they have clean environment devoid of filth, especially open containers with water.
He said that Delta State will embark on aggressive sensitization of the people on how to use the net and why they should use the net at all times, adding that before the net is put into use, it should be spread under a shed for 24 hours.
Uduaghan reiterated that the state will beat other states in the fight against malaria and commended the Federal Government and donor agencies for their commitment towards eradicating malaria in Nigeria.
He congratulated his wife, Roli, who was conferred with the Net Ambassador of the state, adding: “As the NET Ambassador for Delta State, I want to say that you have a onerous task to reach the nooks and crannies of the state and ensure that the nets get to the people, especially in the rural and riverine areas.
“It is a big task but we will assist you and ensure that in conjunction with Ministry of Health this campaign is a success.
“Whatever operational gaps that was witnessed during the distribution of the net, we will correct as a state.”
Mrs. Uduaghan, while responding to the conferment of the ambassadorial award on her by the National Malaria Control Programme, urged all Nigerians, especially mothers, to make use of the treated nets to ensure a malaria free nation.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who was represented at the occasion by Dr. Steve Uzodimma, observed that usage of the net is important because “Nigeria contributes a quarter of malaria burden in Africa; 97 per cent of the population in Nigeria is at risk and it is responsible for about 66 per cent of all clinic attendances and poses a huge challenge on our developmental efforts.
“Malaria robs our country of substantial investments, tourism and development.
“Nigeria losses about N480 billion to malaria annually as a result of treatment and prevention costs, man-hour loss, among others.”
In an address at the occasion, the National Coordinator, National Malaria Control Programme, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, who was represented by Godson Kingsley, said: “Delta State requires a total of 1,975,791 nets worth over N1.9 billion to achieve universal coverage of the entire state require in the ratio of two nets per household.
“With the efforts of the Federal Government Roll Back Malaria partners, these nets have been procured to the households.”
Chukwu disclosed that over N157 million has been spent as operational cost for the implementation of the LLIN universal campaign in Delta State, reiterating that it will cover “movement of the nets and materials to local government areas, monitoring and supervision, state coordination and personnel payment.
“Considering the terrain and other peculiarities of Delta State, some gaps amounting to about N90 million still exist in the operational cost, covering personnel payment and movement of net and materials to communities, especially the riverines.”