Kwara set to commence malaria campaign

Arrangements have been concluded to flag off the distribution of over 2.6 million insecticide-treated nets to households in the 193 wards on Wednesday in Kwara State in the 2023 integrated campaign against malaria.

Speaking about the level of preparedness of the campaign in the 16 local government areas of the state, some of the local government coordinators stated that training and deployment of personnel for the programme had been completed.

The local government coordinators for Ifelodun local government, Mr. E. O. Owolabi, his Irepodun local government counterpart, Sodiq Shakirat Mojibola, and the Ilorin West local government area coordinator, Dr Yusuf Babatunde, mentioned that advocacy at different levels had also been carried out to sensitise residents of the state.He also mentioned that the personnel were grouped into different categories.

“We’ve trained supervisors before now. This is an integrated campaign, and it is the first time it is being carried out in the country, with Kwara State as a pilot state. This involves the distribution of ITN and the dispensing of drugs.Nets have already been distributed to various hubs in preparation for the exercise,” adding that drugs (SPAQ) to be administered to children under the age of five years had been kept in various health facilities selected for the programme in the local government area.

“Tuesday is the last day of training for all personnel to be deployed for the programme. The reason is that if you train people and leave a gap, the trained personnel may lose memory.Advocacy at different levels has been ongoing with activities of town criers, civil society organisations, etc., aimed at sensitising residents of the state on the campaign against malaria.”Advocacy at different levels has been ongoing with activities of town criers, civil society organisations, etc., aimed at sensitising residents of the state on the campaign against malaria.”