The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with Borno state
government; has targeted two million children against malaria in the
state.
The targeted children; are drawn from 25 Local Government Areas of
state; and to be administered with malaria chemo-prevention drug.
While flagging off Seasonal Malaria Chemo-prevention (SMC) campaign
Saturday in Maiduguri, WHO’s National Consultant on Malaria
Emergencies, Dr. Iniabasi Nglass disclosed that malaria is a leading
cause of morbidity and mortality in Borno and across the country.
According to her, the SMC annual exercise; was to protect children
between three and 59 months of against malaria.
Speaking on the inevitable malaria campaigns, she said: “In Borno
state, rainfall is seasonal. The peak of rainfall lasts for three-four
months annually.
“Our seasonal malaria chemo-prevention; which we’re flagging off today
(yesterday) is actually for the Sahel areas, comprising nine states in
the North,” she said.
She noted that during peak periods of rainfall in Borno, Bauchi,
Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Katsina states, they record
peak malaria incidences.
“This is coupled with the Boko Haram terrorism in the Northeast; where
a lot of children missed the opportunity of getting proper health
services,” she said.
On how to administer chemo-prevention drug, Nglass said: “This
exercise is to run for five days; but each child will get a drug.
“The first day will be administered by the parents; while the drug
distributors observe.
“After that; the second and third day doses are handed over to the
caregivers or parents and guided on what to do.”
She said the next day; they will give a dose, while during the third
day, they will give another dose.
The consultant added that a child health card will also be issued to
these children after administering them with chemo-prevention drug.
She noted that this will enable WHO tracks the targeted children that
have completed their doses.
She warned that; children that are sick and fall within the age
bracket should not be administered with malaria prevention drug.
“You should immediately refer such children to nearest health
facility,” she said.
While thanking the global health agency other partners, the Deputy
Governor, Umar Kadafur called on parents to cooperate with health
workers in the ongoing campaign against malaria.
“We’re to see that all the children are allowed to be administered
with malaria chemo-prevention drug across the state,” he said.
