Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, on Thursday, formally flagged-off the distribution of 1.7 million of Long Lasting Insecticide Mosquito Nets ( LLINs) to residents of the state, with a charge on the citizenry to ensure adequate usage to curb the menace of Malaria scourge.
Speaking at the occasion held at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Center Abakaliki, Governor Umahi, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kenneth Ugballa said that the state government was committed in the eradication of malaria scourge in the state.
He restated that the state government was poised to combating the scourge of malaria stating that every measures have been put in place to ensure 100 delivery of the nets to the citizenry.
He assured development partners notably United States Agency For International Development (USAID), Directorate For International Development ( DFID) and others , that the state government would offer assistance and support towards the actualisation of its objective of eliminating the problems posed by malaria epidemics in the state.
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“You know that the population of Ebonyi State is 4 million, you can see that every house-hold in the State will definitely get the Mosquito nets,” he assured.
“I commend both the development partners and the Federal Government for making the nets available to the masses free of charge.
Earlier, in his speech, Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Daniel Umezurike, said that following the flag-off ceremony, distribution of the nets would commence in all nooks and crannies of the state.
His words, “The actual implementation starts on Saturday 9th November 2019, everything has been done to make it orderly, all the Personnel that will make the distribution has been trained
“We did etymological Survey and discovered that mosquitoes were having pockets of resistance to the previous nets, the current mets distribution that were flagged-off today will offer Mechanical and Chemical barrier to mosquitoes”
He assured that all the implementation activities have been carried out in addition to house enumeration of all households through issuance of Net Cards stating that, “On 9th November the actual implementation starts following this flag-off all over the state. It is free”
The health commissioner cautioned people not to misuse the Nets, but to ensure that they sleep inside the nets.
He dismissed insinuations in some quarters alluding to late commencement of the programme, stating that the Nigeria environment was categorised as ” Hollow Endemic Areas where Mosquitoes bites were recorded all year round.
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In a Goodwill message, the Deputy Mission Director USAID Nigeria Mrs Katie Donohoe, commended the Ebonyi State Government for the timely flag-off of the distribution of mosquito nets, assuring that Development Partners would ensure its sustainability.
Reacting to the development, a nursing number Mrs Chinyere Arusi , commended United States Agency For International Development ( USAID) and other Partners for their determined efforts and commitment towards the elimination of malaria in the country.
The occasion had in attendance representative of the wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Rachael Umahi, officials from USAID, DFID, members of the Ebonyi State Executive Council, youth organizations, women , Royal fathers and members of the State House of Assembly among others.
