Borno distributes 5m nets to curb malaria

The Borno State Government, in partnership with the Malaria Consortium, has launched a large-scale distribution of five million mosquito nets and essential medicines to combat the threat of malaria. The initiative aims to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children, during the high-transmission season.

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Borno State is among the four states in Nigeria that were given this five million nets. We had a training meeting in Abuja. The micro planing has already been done and tomorrow, I will inaugurate the committee on the net distribution.

During the flag-off ceremony in Maiduguri, the state's Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Baba Malam Gana, announced the introduction of a tracking device system. This measure is designed to ensure the nets are not hoarded or resold by officials, emphasizing accountability in the distribution process. Borno State is one of four Nigerian states receiving this significant allocation of nets.

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We have introduced a tracker which will be placed in the store, tracking vehicles, and when arrived at the other end, the store keepers will have to account for them. And when it is going out for distribution, accounting process will take place, so this and many others measures have been put in place to ensure that our net did not go astray.

The distribution committee will include health workers, traditional leaders, local government officials, religious figures, civil society members, and security forces. Consignments have already been prepared for storage in Biu and Kwayar Kusar to facilitate easier distribution in the southern part of the state. The tracking system will monitor nets from storage to their final destination, ensuring they reach the intended recipients.

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Today marks another significant milestone in our collective fight against malaria. Seasonal Chemoprevention remains one of the most effective interventions for protecting children aged 3 to 59 from malaria during the high transmission season.

Fati Suleiman, the state program manager for Malaria Consortium, described the intervention as a crucial step in the fight against malaria. She noted that Seasonal Chemoprevention is one of the most effective methods for protecting children aged 3 to 59 months. Suleiman reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting Borno State in its efforts to eliminate malaria as a public health threat, working collaboratively with the government, partners, and communities.

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Year-after-year, this intervention has saved lives, reduced severe malaria and eased the burden on families and our healthcare system