Osun Govt Embarks on Distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets

… Collaborates SFH, FMH, Catholic Relief Services on Awareness…

In order to prevent malaria and bring it to zero existence, Osun Government under the leadership of Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke is set to embark on distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets.

This is as the government through the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation has in collaboration with the Society For Family Health (SFH), Catholic Relief Services, Federal Ministry of Health and the Osun State Ministry of Health concluded arrangements to embark on campaign awareness to the good people of Osun.

This was revealed during a courtesy visit by the stakeholders to the Ministry of Information on Wednesday.

Welcoming the facilitators to Osun, the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation, Barrister (Mrs) Olubukola Aderibigbe applauded the project organizers for the life saving and humanitarian gestures towards Osun populace.

She averred with delight that healthy living for all and sundry in the state is one of the objectives of Osun State government, adding that taking steps to erase and prevent malaria by providing the Insecticide Treated Nets to every household irrespective of status is commendable.

The Coordinating Director, who noted that the Ministry of Information is the information hub of the government, then applauded the activities of the facilitating agencies in the health sector and assured them of adequate support and partnership to create exclusive and consistent awareness on distribution of the nets.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the ITN State Officer, Dr Olufemi Oroge revealed that the Insecticide Treated Nets was last distributed in 2020, stressing that it has a lifespan of about 4-years. He further explained that the distribution of new nets to replace the old ones, is to ensure that the target objectives of getting the net, which was specially designed for usage against mosquito bites and malaria prevention properly distributed, is optimally achieved.

Speaking further, Dr Oroge maintained that mass coverage and usage of mosquito Insecticide Treated Nets is the most cost effective means of malaria prevention, adding that the project is sponsored by Global Fund and implemented by the Society For Family Health in Osun state.

Also in his remarks, the Society For Family Health 2023 ITN Campaign Manager, Dr John Ochole highlighted that 3-million nets will be distributed to Osun households through the use of door-to-door distribution method. He stressed that at the last distribution, 19 percent performance was achieved noting that the year 2023 exercise is targeted to achieve the 5-percent specified by the World Health Organization Malaria Prevention agenda.

Ochole added that the distribution, which will hold for 12-days, will commence on May 15, 2023 and is expected to end on June 5, 2023. He said that the distribution would be executed by ITN officers engaged in every local government areas of the state because of their familiarity with the people and their environment.

Similarly, the SFH Malnutrition Specialist, Mr Daniel Gburie further emphasized on the need for media support through the Ministry of Information, adding that micro planning is ongoing to capture the actual population before the major exercise kicks off, so as to ensure that no household is missed during the distribution and collection of the mosquito nets which he said is free of charge.

He urged Osun people to also imbibe the habit of keeping their environment clean as a means of preventing malaria. He added that advocacy engagements with other stakeholders have been put in place for everyone to be involved in saving lives of the people against malaria disease. He commended Osun government for its health activities saying that he looks forward to its counterpart funding. He then disclosed that Nigeria is a contributor to Global Fund vision of eradicating malaria.

Present at the programme with the facilitators was the State Malaria Desk officer, Mrs Bukola Oyelere as well as the ITN Federal Ministry of Health Officer.

Also present were the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation Director of Administration and Supplies, Mrs Adenike Oladimeji, Director, Statistics and Planning, Mr Ogundele Adedayo, Director Grassroots and Public Enlightenment, Mr Raphael Ojo, Director Social Mobilization and Strategy, Mr Segun Oyeniyi and Deputy Director Press and Public Relations, Mrs Toyin Adeoye who represented Mr Moshood Suleiman,the Director,Press and Public Relations of the Ministry among other officers.