The Sokoto State Government has called for a more robust collaboration with the Malaria Consortium so as to stop malaria scourge in the state.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu made this plea when he received the Director, Malaria Consortium for the West and Central Africa, Dr Maxwell Kolawole on a courtesy visit on Thursday, according to a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Abubakar Bawa.
He described malaria as one of the major health challenges in the state and called for a stronger collaboration to stop the scourge.
According to him, the present administration has done a lot in improving the health condition of the people of the state.
He said, “Since we came on board, we have done so much to health- related issues especially women and children.
“We have been providing free medical care to the pregnant women, the aged and children in our health facilities.”
On the malaria control programme, Governor Aliyu said several outreach programmes had been carried out in which those found with complicated malaria cases were given medical attention, financial support as well as mosquito treated nets, among others.
He further said several fumigation exercises had also been carried out in the local government areas with high cases of malaria as part of the measures to stop malaria spread in the state.
The Governor restated his administration’s determination to support any programme geared towards making the state malaria-free.
He commended the Malaria Consortium for working round the clock to stop the spread of malaria in the state.
Earlier, the Director of the Malaria Consortium for West and Central Africa, Dr Maxwell Kolawole, said Malaria consortium has been working in Sokoto State since 2016,and had distributed malaria commodities to prevent children from the debilitating scourge.
He said the house to house administration of oran vaccines against malaria needs to be supported, if malaria is to be adequately fought.
Dr Kolawole described the lack of prompt taking of anti malaria drugs by children as one of the major setbacks towards ending malaria in the state.
“We don’t want children with malaria cases to exceed to severe case,” he added.
He further called for support from the state government in ensuring that parents give their children malaria drugs at the right time, and also encouraged people to sleep in mosquito treated nets.
Dr Kolawole commened the present administration for supporting the consortium to achieve its mission of ridding the society of the malaria scourge.