Ekene Agbor, Osogbo
In a bid to get rid of malaria infection in Osun state, an organisation, Society For Family Health, is set to distribute treated mosquito nets to residents of the state.
The Deputy Project Director of the organisation, Mr John Ocholi made this known on Friday in Osogbo during the official investiture ceremony of Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, wife of the state Governor, as the Net Ambassador by the Society For Family Health.
According to Ocholi, 3.2 million treated mosquito nets will be distributed on house-to-house basis across the State between October 8 and 21, 2020.
He said Mrs Oyetola was decorated as the Net Ambassador as part of efforts at promoting action against malaria in the State adding that the first lady would be leading campaign against the disease in the state.
The campaign against malaria in the state, according to Ocholi, is supported by Global Funds, and that it would be officially flagged off on October 7.
Ocholi said the investiture confers on Mrs Oyetola the responsibility of participation, ownership and leadership of the campaign against health-related sustainable development goal.
Speaking, Mrs Oyetola expressed delight in the induction, adding that whatever guarantees the safety and security of women and children in the State appealed to her passion.
Mrs Oyetola described the net program as one of the strategies of government to combat the pandemic of malaria especially as it affects women and children.
She stressed that malaria is preventable and urged residents to always make use of the mosquito nets whenever they get them.
“We always welcome every support we can get towards malaria control. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets have proven to be about the most cost-effective preventive measure against mosquito control, if used correctly. Evidence showed that a community can get rid of malaria, if as much as 80% of the people sleep inside the net regularly,” she stated.
For the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, it is possible for the State to be rid of malaria.
Isamotu said: “It is very possible to win the battle against malaria. Cuba and Sri Lanka, for instance, have defeated malaria. Osun can equally do so, and what we are doing here today is a step in the right direction”.
Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Siji Olamiju, thanked the First Lady for her contributions to making Ifedayo local government Open Defecation-Free, adding that he was certain that the campaign against malaria would receive the same degree of intensity and improve the public health status of Osun.
