The Kogi government says it has earmarked over N4 billion for malaria prevention across healthcare systems in the state.

Gov. Ahmed Ododo made the disclosure on Wednesday at the inauguration of a malaria prevention campaign at the Government House in Lokoja. 

Mr Ododo said the campaign was aimed at combating the disease with the distribution of free drugs and test-kits across healthcare facilities in the state.

He said that anti-malaria drugs, rapid diagnostic test kits, and over three million insecticide-treated nets would be distributed to healthcare facilities in the state.

He said the distribution was in line with his administration’s commitment to promote healthy living and the well-being of people of the state.

The governor said that malaria affected everyone and had continued to claim the lives of thousands of people in Nigeria and called for collective efforts to eradicate the disease.

He highlighted alarming statistics from the 2024 World Malaria Report, which revealed that “Africa accounted for 94 per cent of global malaria cases in 2023, with Nigeria contributing 30 per cent of the 5,970 deaths recorded.

“Kogi state’s malaria prevalence of 16 per cent exceeded the national target of less than 10 per cent, necessitating urgent intervention by all stakeholders,” he said.

Mr Ododo stressed the importance of ensuring that the supplies got to communities and people for which they were meant to improve health outcomes.

He said the items were not for sale and anyone found guilty of diverting them would be prosecuted.

He said the programme was supported by the Islamic Development Bank, with over 10,000 cartons of anti-malaria drugs and test kits containing more than one million doses for children and nearly two million doses for adults.

“The supplies will be distributed to 536 government health facilities across the state, including primary healthcare centres, general hospitals, and teaching hospitals,” he said.

The governor commended the healthcare workers in the state for their efforts in improving healthcare outcomes in rural areas, describing them as soldiers battling diseases on the frontline

He urged traditional rulers, NGOs, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to join hands with the government in ensuring the success of the initiative.

Mr Ododo further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the health sector as a critical pillar of the development agenda of the state under his leadership.

He expressed confidence that the initiative, alongside the federal government’s healthcare reforms under President Bola Tinubu, would significantly reduce malaria prevalence and improve the quality of life of the people of Kogi.

Earlier, the commissioner for health, Dr Abdulazeez Adams, emphasised the importance of the malaria prevention programme.

He said it would ensure that every household had access to malaria test kits, drugs, insecticide-treated nets, and other preventive measures.

Mr Adams said that the intervention was free with a focus on community engagement.

“It is a comprehensive strategy to combat malaria effectively across Kogi,” he said.

(NAN)