By isreal joel, jos
Plateau state government has launched the seasonal malaria chemoprevention campaign (smc), aimed at achieving zero malaria prevalence among children of the state.
Our correspondent reports that in collaboration with malaria consortium, the programme was flagged off at the obasanjo model primary school hwolse in jos south local government in the state on wednesday targeting the prevention of malaria in children aged 3- 59 months during the peak of the malaria season.
Speaking at the occasion in jos , the plateau state governor bar caleb mutfwang reiterated his administration’s commitment to significantly reducing malaria cases among children explaining that it was essential for parents and guardians to present their children to health workers for drug administration.
Represented by the state commissioner of health, dr. Cletus shurkuk, ,the governor said to ensure a successful smc campaign, the state government has approved the use of over 800 health facilities and deployed over 11.000 ad-hoc staff for the programme.
” the state government has also provide counterpart funding to ensure the smooth running of the campaigns.”
He added that ” as one of the national strategies to reduce the burden of malaria in the country and in our dear state, the government of plateau state in partnership with the federal ministry of health through the national malaria elimination programme (nmep) and malaria consortium have intensified efforts to increase access to smc which is cost-effective.
” the use of smc has proven to be one of the most effective malaria preventive interventions “.
Governor mutfwang also said the initiative was in line with the global malaria strategy which sets the target of reducing global malaria incidence and mortality rates by at least 90 percent, by the year 2030.
” I earnestly call on all the good people of plateau state to take advantage of the
Smc to protect our children from contracting malaria ”
” let me use this medium to call on all traditional and religious leaders across the state to support our crusade in the fight against malaria, ”
” the time has come and the time is now for us to champion a malaria-free plateau, he added.
