Concrete steps towards rolling back malaria in Abia have begun with the flag-off of distribution of about 1.3 million Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) to households in the state and a charge to the people to embrace all prevention strategies to make the National Malaria Control (or Elimination) Programme (NMCP) a success in Nigeria.

Measures to control malaria disease include environmental sanitation for drastic laval source reduction and sleeping under the LLINs.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, who personally graced the flag-off of the universal campaign on scaling up LLINs distribution in Abia on Wednesday, disclosed that of the targeted 63 million nets, about 50 million have so far been distributed in 31 states since the exercise commenced in 2009.

Chukwu lamented that despite efforts to eliminate malaria, the disease has continued to ravage many communities. “The malaria burden still remains a major public health problem in Nigeria, contributing significantly to the poor childhood and maternal mortality in our country,” the minister stated.

He harped on the need for households that have received the LLINs to use them. “I implore all our mothers and pregnant women to ensure that they sleep under these nets. We should also ensure that our children sleep under the nets in order to ensure that mosquitoes do not bite us,” he said, assuring that the federal government would accelerate all efforts to eliminate malaria in the country.

Flagging off the exercise, Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, said Abia regards malaria as the second highest killer disease after HIV/AIDS, hence the commitment of the state to NMCP.

Orji, represented by his Deputy, Chief Emeka Ananaba, said the state has therefore paid N39 million counterpart fund for distribution of the LLINs and assured that government would continue all health policies that would ensure that the Abia populace remained healthy.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Okechukwu Ogah, appealed to Abians to imbibe proper and continuous use of the nets to ward off malaria and should always seek medical attention when they were sick.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the investitureof wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Odochi Orji, represented by wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Nene Ananaba, as the Net Ambassador of Abia, goodwill messages from National Coordinator of NMCP, Mrs. Chioma Amajoh, representative of the Carter centre, Dr Emmanuel Egboka and distribution of nets to the people.

*Photo: Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu