“LET’S CONCENTRATE ON MALARIA PREVENTION” – Bolanle Ambode
Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Bolanle Ambode, has urged Lagosians and Nigerians in general, to be more concerned with preventing rather than curing malaria infection.
She gave the charge when her pet project, Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative HOFOWEM, distributed over 3000 insecticide-treated nets at Makoko community, Yaba LCDA, as part of activities to mark 2018 World Malaria Day.
Mrs. Ambode described as unacceptable, a situation where a child dies every two minutes from malaria around the world, and an alarming global average of 400,000 deaths annually, according to WHO reports.
She submitted that efforts should be geared towards a robust prevention of the scourge, with the widespread use of nets, insecticides and preventive treatment of expectant mothers.
According to her, “We cannot fold our arms and allow malaria to continue to ravage our society. This epidemic has claimed too many lives, whether in our country, Africa or the world in general. Thank God it is not a disease without prevention or cure, and since it has both, the easier way out is to prevent it”.
She noted further that the theme for this year, ‘End Malaria for Good’ was attainable, if governments, NGOs, stakeholders and individuals, worked together to combat the epidemic.
She, therefore, appealed for more investment in malaria prevention, as well as greater funding for malaria control in endemic countries, stressing that this would aid the attainment of WHO’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria projection of 40 percent reduction in cases and deaths by 2020.
Speaking further, she said, “HOFOWEM as a foundation, is concerned about the welfare and health of the family. The family cannot be productive if it is plagued with one of the fastest killers in medical history. This is why we are advocating for the use of treated insecticide nets, proper disposal of waste and a clean environment generally”.
Addressing the community members, the Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Mr. Kayode Omiyale, thanked the founder of HOFOWEM foundation, for celebrating 2018 World Malaria Day with the community and counselled Makoko residents to ensure the insecticide distributed is used for the purpose for which it was given.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of HOFOWEM, Mrs. Olayinka Oyefunke, thanked the founder for approving the purchase and mass distribution of the nets, stressing that it was in line with HOFOWEM’s philosophy of touching people’s lives.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Ibraheem Aladetan, the Baale of Ilaje-Makoko community thanked the founder of HOFOWEM for her care, promising on behalf of others, that their homes and immediate surroundings would always be kept clean.
World Malaria Day is marked on April 25th every year to recognize global efforts at controlling malaria, provide education on the scourge and spread information on control strategies in endemic areas across the world.