By Agili Joshua and Praise Palang

As part of its effort to mark this year’s “World Malaria Day”, the office of the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals and Development Partners, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health and the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency organized a One-Day Sensitization and Community Outreach on Malaria Prevention to the residents of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The sensitization programme which was part of its activities marking World Malaria Day, was to create awareness and sensitize the people in the area to take preventive measures against contracting malaria. Speaking during the sensitization programme at the Council Secretariat in Doma on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals and Development Partners, Abubakar Murtala Mohammad, represented by the Head of Finance, Project Support Unit, Mr. Daniel Anzaya, admonished the people to imbibe the habits of keeping their environment clean and using treated mosquito nets to avoid the mosquito breed that causes malaria. He also encouraged the people to visit the nearest primary health clinic when they notice any symptom of the disease.

Mr. Anzaya explained that the 2021 World Malaria Report by the World Health Organization showed that about 200,000 people die yearly as a result of malaria related cases. Hence, it has become expedient to work together to achieve zero malaria in the society . He also said that goal 3 of SDGs, which is to achieve good health and wellbeing by 2030, could only be achieved “if we work together to eliminate malaria in our society”.

He then commended the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, for the reintroduction of the monthly sanitation exercises in the State, saying that the exercise would go a long way to mitigate the impact of malaria in our community. He also called on the people to support the present administration’s policy to provide health care services to the people of the State.

On his part, the Executive Chairman, Doma Local Government Council, Arch. Ahmed Sarki Usman commended the efforts of the SDGs and other Health Partners for choosing Doma LGC for the programme. He said that the council was working in synergy with the traditional rulers and religious leaders in the area to ensure that people clear the dirt and stagnant water within their environment to curb mosquito breeding.

He also commended the Federal and State governments and other international partners for the recent distribution of treated mosquito nets in the area. He added that the council would continue to sensitize the residents of Doma and its environs, to always sleep under the treated mosquito nets.

During the Sensitization programme, people in the area were tested for malaria and those who tested positive were given malaria medications.