The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr. Bala Mohammed, Wednesday, told newsmen that over 17 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) were distributed in six states of the federation in 2020.
Mohammed stated this in Abuja at the 2nd 2020 bi-annual media chat designed to update Nigerians on successes and challenges of the exercise.
The programme is themed: “Delivering Malaria Intervention in the context of Covid-19: How NMEP has fared”.
According to NMEP, consistent and correct use of ITNs in Nigeria has led to parasite prevalence reduction to the tune of 13%.
Mohammed said apart from Oyo state, all the other states targeted got 95% of coverage while the exercise lasted.
Some of the beneficiary states mentioned by the coordinator is the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno and Enugu states.
Others are Kwara, Oyo, Plateau, Osun and Zamfara states.
NMEP further disclosed that of all the 9 states of Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara that were in focus, almost 13 million eligible children were reached.
Represented by Director and Head, Surveillance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Operation Research, Dr. Perpetua Uhomoibhi, the coordinator told participants that despite pandemic and glaring challenges, NMEP has sustained interventions at very significant levels.
The coordinator said, “These could not have been possible without the support and commitment of the Roll-back Malaria (RBM) partnership in Nigeria as well as political and financial supports by the governments at various levels,”
While reeling out his report at the occasion, the malaria technical director and lead discussant, Professor Olugbenga Mokuolu, assured that with the new global funding which span three years (2021-2023), Nigeria would move out of its current malaria index position.
According to him, with sustained global funding, favourable policy environment, intensified campaigns and strong coordination, more lives would be saved.
“Although Covid-19 has tested our resilience in malaria control, with the media, government and development partners’ collaborations, we have resolved to take Nigeria out of the unenviable position it occupies,” Mokuolu said.
