| 26 April 2018 | Anokwuru Utchay Alexis
The wife of the Cross River State Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade, today
led the State health team on a World Malaria Day celebration to Ikot Offiong
Ambai community in Akpabuyo LGA of the State.
Speaking during the celebration, Her Excellency said the State is ready
to fight malaria following the various campaigns
that have been carried out across the State with her pet project, the Mediatrix
Development Foundation (MDF) and the State health sector.
“I’m happy to be here today to tell the world that
Cross River State is ready to beat malaria. Malaria is an enemy we can conquer,
that’s why we are all gathered here today.
Malaria is responsible for 11% of maternal mortality
rate in Nigeria, which is why we are very aggressive in our fight against this
enemy. There are over 445,000 malaria deaths yearly and Nigeria accounts for
207,000 cases” she stated.
She further stated the importance of testing before
treating any form of ailment, adding that one can reduce the incidence by
following the proper pevention and treatment mechanisms. She promised the
establish more Malaria clubs in schools to further expand the sensitization of
children in schools.
The Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang
Asibong, opined that the State is talking elimination rather than control
through the State Malaria Elimination Program (SMEP) while the Director General
of the State Primary Health Care development Agency (SPHCDA), Dr. Bertha Edu
educated members of the community on testing before treating any ill health.
The event also featured a free medical outreach which
included testing and treating of malaria and HIV tests as well as distribution
of long lasting insecticidal nets to members of the community especially to
school aged children.
Highpoint of the event was the demonstration of net
hanging in a household by the wife of the Governor, Dr Linda Ayade.
Since 2015, the State government has distributed 2.5m
LLINs, tested 1.5m people and treated over 750,000 positive cases across the
196 wards where its 4m populace resides, as they work towards improving on the
2016 statistics of 0.09% to 1% of malaria prevalence reduction.
Also present at the event was the Director of Public
Health and the Malaria Elimination Program Coordinator; Dr. Iwara Iwara, the
Permanent Secretary of the SPHCDA; Mr. Mark Unah, the Head of Local Government
Affairs in Akpabuyo; Mrs. Theresa Ezema, Traditional Rulers, opinion leaders
and a host of other top Government functionaries.
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