Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola on Friday said his administration is committed on providing good health for the residents in the state, flag off long lasting insecticidal nets.
He said, the government will always prioritize health of the people first and anchor the development agenda on them and taking care of their health.
Oyetola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prince Oluwole Oyebamiji disclosed this at the Flag Off of Insecticidal Treated Nets (ITNs) organized by State of Osun ministry of Health in collaboration with Federal ministry of health and Society for family health and Catholic relief services.
The Governor said “I deeply appreciate you for interest in our state as reflected in your investment in our people who are most previous and most valued resources.
“As we all know, malaria is a preventable disease transmitted by mosquito and it kills people around the world, most of whom are pregnant women and children.
“We are going to supporting all efforts to ensure its distribute and correct use for protection of our people and pregnant women and indeed everybody and residents of the state of Osun”
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire MD said Osun State is one of the six States selected to benefit from the 2020 mass Insecticidal Treated Nets
(ITNs) distribution campaigns aimed at delivery of over 3.2 million.
Ehanire , who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Federal Ministryof Health, Dr. Mrs maintained that the deployment of new generation net in the state was based on the entomological and insecticide residence monitoring studies in the state from vector surveillance activities in the state sentinel site.
“There has been significant reduction in malaria cases in the country as recorded in the recently disseminated Nigeria Democratic Health Survey (DHS) 2018 where prevalence in children under 5 yeaes dropped to 23% from 42% recorded in the 2010 malaria Indicator Survey (MIS).
“Two Local Government Areas ( Ife North and Ejigbo ) will simultaneous be used to carry out the new net project evaluation that will involve monitoring the impact of the new generation ITNs on malaria indicators ( epidemiological and entomological )”
“The highlight of these activities was the volunteering by her Excellency, the First Lady of Osun State, Kafayat Oyetola as the Net Ambassador for Osun State. Her acceptance of this role would in no doubt promote the proper use ITNs among the people of Osun State.” He said
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Osun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Isamotu Rafiu, urged residents of the state to take full advantage of the Net for the purpose it was intended.
Isamotu commended the Global Fund, Society for Family Health and Catholic relief services for their contribution towards the success of the program.
According to him, the only way we can pay back to those who provided the funds and all the partner and federal ministry of health is for us to sleep under this net regularly to malaria in our state
However, the project director for Society For Family Health, Dr. Ernest Nwokolo said the agency is ready to distribute 3.2 million net to 10,000 households in the state.
Nwokolo added that about 2000 corps will work with the society for family health to assure the net to reach the residents in Osun.
“The Society For Family Health is implementing partner in Osun state and everything is ready. We have 3.2 million net to distribute to 10,000 citizens of the state.
“We have close to 2000 teams that are going to move from house to house in two weeks. We thank Governor Gboyaga Oyetola for the strength he push during the work process.” he said
