WORLD MALARIA DAY : OJOKORO COUNCIL BOSS SENSITIZES, GIVES FREE HEALTH SERVICES, DRUGS
By The Executive Chairman of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, Hon. Hammed Idowu D. Tijani (H.I.D) has joined the International Community to mark the “World Malaria Day” as stakeholders in the LCDA converged at the Council Secretariat on Thursday, 25th April, 2019 for free malaria test and drugs for those that tested positive.
The Council boss who was represented at the occasion by the Supervisor for Health in the Council, Hon. Nasiru Busari reiterated his administration’s commitment in making sure the people of Ojokoro are free from this deadly disease.
“Our commitment had been demonstrated with the reconstruction of Isokan Primary Health Care (PHC) Center which had been equipped with sophisticated medical equipments and qualified personnel to attend to the medical needs of our people”, he said.
He also described malaria as a deadly disease, hence the sensitization of the people of Ojokoro by medical experts to educate on the cause, prevention and cure.
“Our health centres are also available for the people where they can also go for test and get treated” he added.
He assured that anyone that tested positive during the free screening at the occasion shall be given free malaria drugs.
A renowned medical practitioner, Dr. Giwa Omotayo from Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) who double as the facilitator for the event emphasized on the rising case of malaria in Nigeria and its effect on mortality rate.
She disclosed that malaria cases is rising, as the World Malaria report released in 2017, shows that Nigeria’s case had increased by over 500%, which she described as very alarming.
She advised the people to do malaria test first, before treatment which is the national guideline right now.
Dr. Giwa gave insights into the causes and prevention of malaria, as she further advised the people to make use of treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spray in order to curtail the menace of malaria
Speaking with newsmen, the Medical Officer of Health in the Council, Dr. (Mrs) Riyike Ogunyemi called on stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians to join the moving train towards combating malaria squarely.
Ogunyemi implored stakeholders to come together and discuss the modalities towards the eradication of malaria, stressing that a child dies of malaria every two minutes and it is the right time to end the malaria scourge.
The Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) in the LCDA, Alhaji Azeez Amzat, commended the Council Chairman for putting up such event to mark the 2019 World Malaria Day.
“I am grateful this program was organized and we were invited to benefit from the free screening.
“We will go back to our general meetings and enlighten our people who are unavoidably absent at this program to enable them do same at their various communities” said the CDC Chairman.
The United Nations has declared 25th April every year as World Malaria Day, to create awareness on the eradicate of malaria all over the World.
