By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Hon Commissioner of Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, received a delegation from the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Board, the State Ministry of Health, and the Federal Ministry of Health.
The team, led by Dr. Mohammed Rilwan of the Malaria Consortium, discussed the progress and impact of the integrated Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign across the state.
During the meeting, Hon. Abdullahi Bego reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to collaborating with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) within and outside the state, as well as with development partners, for the overall benefit of the people of Yobe State.
The commissioner commended the Yobe State Ministry of Health, the Primary Healthcare Board, and other stakeholders for their relentless efforts in providing quality healthcare services assuring them that the Ministry of Information would continue to support their initiatives to promote a healthier society.
Speaking on the impact of malaria, Bego emphasized that, although it remains a deadly disease, it is preventable stressing the need for collective support and cooperation of all stakeholders reiterating that his ministry would ensure effective and timely public sensitization on the integrated SMC and ITN campaign, scheduled to take place in July and September this year.
In his remarks, the team leader, Dr. Mohammed Rilwan, stated that their visit was aimed at seeking additional support from the ministry, especially as Yobe State is set to implement two key malaria prevention interventions this year.
“The Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign will be integrated with the Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) mass distribution campaign. SMC is a mass drug distribution initiative where children aged 3–59 months receive malaria preventive medicines, Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine with Amodiaquine (SPAQ), every 28 days over a four-month period,” Dr. Rilwan explained.
He also solicited the ministry’s support in creating awareness through radio and television jingles, as well as other media publications, to ensure the successful distribution of approximately 2 million insecticide-treated nets and 4.6 million SPAQ doses across the state.
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