BY BUKOLA BARDI
Ondo State government has commended the relentless efforts of Malaria Consortium, with funds from GiveWell Philanthropic support, to ensure that Nigeria and indeed Africa is free of malaria.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs Folukemi Aladenola gave the commendation at the debriefing of the Ondo State 2021 Insecticide Treated Net Campaign, led by Malaria Consortium.
Pharmacist Aladenola said Malaria Consortium was passionate about the mass campaign on the use of insecticide treated nets as shown in their efforts to reach the nooks and crannies of the 18 LGAs of Ondo state with over three million nets for residents, an effort highly commendable.
She said the state government had mapped out plans to monitor utilization of the Nets by residents to ensure the distribution was not in vain and the objectives of reduction of malaria burden is achieved in the state.
Meanwhile, the end process which was carried out prior to the debriefing showed that majority of the beneficiaries had orientation about the use of the nets going by their interactions with Radio Nigeria correspondent.
They said they had aired their Nets for 24 hours and had started sleeping inside them for adequate protection against mosquito bites which causes malaria.
A visit to Ondo West Local Government Area in Ondo Central senatorial District of the state showed that the people were aware of the benefits of sleeping inside mosquito nets.
They noted that all guidelines given them by the Monitoring and Distribution Team were before adding that they had begun to sleep inside the nets for adequate protection against mosquito bites
They also expressed appreciation to the state government and partners for the work well done.
Some of the residents at areas such as gbajumo, Jillalu, Odojomu, Surulere, Lafenwa, told Radio Nigeria that their experience with the mosquito net is that of freedom from malaria as their families now sleep without being bitten by mosquitoes.
Mrs Sola Gbadamosi, Bukola Adeniyi, Mr Sunday Akerele, Adewole Wemimo and Toyin Ayowole confirmed that they got the number of nets required based on the number of persons in their households and had begun sleeping inside them.
The people commended the Federal government, Malaria Consortium and other stakeholders for the provision of the insecticide treated mosquito nets to protect them from mosquitoes that cause malaria.
However, in areas such as Odojomu, Yaba, and Ajagbale, there were complaints that the nets did not get to them as they were not home when the MTDs visited their areas and they declined giving the nets out in proxy.
Speaking on his experience with the beneficiaries, an end process monitor, Mr Tomisin Ogundipe observed that while some of them showed great knowledge about the use of the nets, a few numbers knew nothing about it and suggested adequate awareness for the people ahead of future exercise.
With the distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets concluded, it is expected that the state will continue efforts to ensure increase in the utilization of the distributed nets.