The Enugu government has begun free malaria testing and treatment in no fewer than 527 health facilities across the 17 LGAs.

The commissioner for health, George Ugwu, said in Enugu on Wednesday that the facilities were in both public and private health facilities in the state.

He noted that facilities offering free testing and treatment for malaria included primary healthcare centres, general and cottage hospitals, and selected private and public tertiary hospitals.

According to him, the state government wants to drastically reduce the prevalence and incidence of malaria among residents.

“The ongoing statewide Enugu State Ministry of Health Malaria Elimination Project, which was envisioned and embarked upon by Governor Peter Mbah, is meant to touch lives and strengthen the health of residents.

“The state government, with support from its health partners, has made available free malaria test consumables and drugs to many health facilities, including public and private hospitals in the state.

“The residents should avail themselves of this health gesture by visiting health facilities close to them and play their role in helping to eliminate malaria and its health and financial burden from the state,” he said.

The commissioner advised doctors and health workers to always do a malaria test before treatment, as “not all fever is malaria”.

The commissioner said the project has been running for over a year and is being scaled up by the Enugu government.

The impactful project has reduced the prevalence of malaria in the state to 9.9 per cent, according to data from the recent four-year gap malaria survey.

(NAN)