An estimated four million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) are expected to be delivered to the Delta State Government for onward distribution to households across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, during an advocacy visit to the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu in his office in Asaba, to seek the support of his Ministry in the forthcoming ITN mass campaign slated to commence in June, 2022.
While calling on Deltans to take advantage of the opportunity, Mr. Aniagwu cautioned against probable avarice for the mosquito nets as such negatives will undermine the efforts of government to eliminate malaria.
‘’One of the challenges which we need to deal with, as a society, is the greed that exists in us as a people. The state government spends money to ensure that these ITNs are provided free-of-charge especially for the vulnerable groups in the society.
‘’But some criminally-minded persons will hoard it so that they can sell it later… When this happens, it undermines the intentions of the government and the enormous efforts and resources invested to ensure that malaria is rolled back’’ he said.
Earlier, Dr. Ononye, who was represented by the Chairperson of the Delta State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (DSPHCDA), Dr. Isioma Okobah, said that pre-implementation activities across the 25 Local Government Areas have commenced ahead of the campaign.
With the theme ‘’Zero Malaria Starts With Me’’, Ononye hoped that the 2022 edition of the roll-back-malaria campaign will be more successful than the previous one in 2019.
‘’As I speak to you today (yesterday), the state is expecting the arrival of 3.7million ITNs at the State Capital Warehouse after which they will be moved to LGA warehouses in different locations across the state ahead of the ITN mass campaign.
‘’The process will commence with the issuance of net cards to household members and collection of the mosquito nets will be done on the spot for every household visited.
‘’I appeal to all Deltans to take this golden opportunity very seriously as your active participation will help prevent malaria in your immediate environment and the state in general’’ he said.
Remarking, the representative of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Mrs. Mary Esema, and Senior Manager (Vector Control) of the Catholci Relief Services, Orezi Adhekoyibo, sought stronger publicity synergy with the information ministry.
