By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has called for a stronger collaboration with the Malaria Consortium to combat the malaria scourge in the state.
In a statement from the Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakar Bawa, Governor Ahmed Aliyu made this plea during a courtesy visit from Dr. Maxwell Kolawole, the Director of the Malaria Consortium for West and Central Africa.
Governor Aliyu described malaria as one of the major health challenges facing the state and emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation to tackle it effectively. He noted that the current administration has made significant strides in improving the health conditions of Sokoto residents.
“Since we came on board, we have made considerable progress in addressing health-related issues, particularly for women and children. We have been providing free medical care to pregnant women, the elderly, and children in our health facilities,” he stated.
Regarding the malaria control program, Gov. Aliyu highlighted several outreach initiatives that have been implemented, including providing medical attention, financial support, and mosquito-treated nets to those diagnosed with complicated malaria cases. He also mentioned that fumigation exercises had been conducted in local government areas with high malaria prevalence to help curb the disease’s spread.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting any program aimed at making the state malaria-free and commended the Malaria Consortium for its tireless efforts to halt the disease’s spread in Sokoto.
Earlier, Dr. Maxwell Kolawole noted that the Malaria Consortium has been active in Sokoto State since 2016, distributing malaria prevention commodities to protect children from the debilitating disease. He emphasized the importance of house-to-house administration of malaria vaccines, stating that such efforts require robust support to effectively combat the disease.
Dr. Kolawole identified the lack of timely administration of anti-malaria drugs to children as a major setback in the fight against malaria in the state. “We don’t want the number of children with malaria cases to escalate to severe levels,” he cautioned.
He called for support from the state government to ensure that parents administer malaria drugs to their children promptly and encouraged communities to use mosquito-treated nets for better protection against malaria.
Dr. Kolawole also commended the current administration for its support, which has enabled the consortium to pursue its mission of eliminating the malaria scourge from society.
