Malaria: Global Fund Donates 3.2m Mosquito Nets To Jigawa
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
An organisation committed to the fight against malaria, tuberculosis and HIV, Global Fund Nigeria, has donated 3.2 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) to Jigawa as part of efforts to control the spread of malaria in the state.
The Syndicate reports that the mosquito nets were distributed on Wednesday to pregnant women and children across the 23 local government areas of the state.
The Fund’s Head in Nigeria, Dr Jim Thomas, said at the flag off of the distribution at Katanga village in Kiyawa local government area of the state, that the target was to reduce infant and maternal deaths.
According to him, the collective efforts of government and development partners has reduced the menace of malaria in the state from 39.6% in 2013 to 24.7% in 2023.
He stated that the organisation had increased it’s budget for 2024-2026 for more expanded intervention.
Dr Jim said that the distribution of the mosquito nets is part of the project they are doing to fight malaria and appreciated the cooperation of Jigawa state, describing it as very encouraging and commendable.
In his speech, Governor Umar Namadi said malaria remained one of the major diseases creating huge challenges and burden on public health.
He said that the government was ever ready to collaborate with any partner to tackle the disease
“We are not only going to support Global Fund, but also prepared to maintain what they are doing because they can’t provide such service forever.”
The governor explained that the government has been investing in healthcare to enhance public health across the state.
“We increased our health budget, we commenced upgrading of our hospitals, we employed 1,000 health workers including doctors, and we introduced health insurance for vulnerable and less privileged within one year in our effort to ensure access to basic healthcare services for all of our people irrespective of their socio-economic status,” he added.
Governor Namadi urged the beneficiaries to use the mosquito nets properly to enhance the efforts being made to totally eliminate malaria in the state.
