By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
The group, Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has called on the government and all relevant stakeholders at all levels to support Community Based Organizations (CBOs) implementing project towards elimination of AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria (ATM) in communities across the State.
This is just as the Non-governmental Organization (NGO) is craving for awareness and coverage of services that are still needed to scale up work on the prevention, treatment and mitigation of the impact of malaria as well as the promotion of immunisation and better nutrition in Delta State, with focus on communities.
This was disclosed today, 28 September, 2022, by the Delta State ACOMIN Coordinator, Pst. Greg Sifo, at the State Advocacy Focused Media Meeting (C19RM/RSSH Project) held at Cyson Hotels in Asaba, the State capital, where he advocated that the state government should increase its funding on malaria prevention.
While disclosing that ACOMIN still need support to addressed the impact of COVID-19 on Gender Base Violence (GBV) and daily reported cases of human rights violation, Sifo said “We also ask the Mass Media to join us as partners to propagate these intervention as we progress by amplifying the need for increased support and funding for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) interventions by the government at all levels.”
The ACOMIN Coordinator stated that the organisation was presently focused on all communities in the state, and that the state ministry of health should heighten up the protection of lives through eradication of malaria.
He further expressed the readiness and decision of ACOMIN to partner the government and key in to the distribution of treated mosquito repellent nets, health policy as well as sensitization of the people for the benefit of Deltans. Adding that this will serve as a cashback as supportive malaria improves.
Sifo said: “ACOMIN in collaboration with CBOs and other major stakeholders had been working. Successes recorded were based on the advocacy and accountability campaign done to stakeholders on community engagement to sustain the campaign against malaria and other diseases.”
He disclosed that the COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) Grant, with support from Global Fund, seeks to address gaps in the systems and infrastructures for efficient and effective outcomes.
“The health systems as well as the Communities and Community Society Organizations (CSOs) are integrated into the COVID Response, such that all contribute their quotas in achieving results. Historically, the CSOs have contributed to COVID-19 particularly with regards to facilitating access to essential commodities and routine healthcare services.” The Delta State ACOMIN Coordinator stated in his brief.
In her remarks, the Delta State Malaria Program Manager, Dr (Mrs.) Julie Aniah, commended ACOMIN as well as appreciated all stakeholders for the support on malaria elimination in the State, adding that malaria can be eliminated totally.
She said the advocacy focused Media meeting on Malaria control was very important because public needs to know what the group was doing. That it was an opportunity to amplified the good work the NGO was doing.
While noting that the State Government envisaged malaria free State in the nearest future, Dr. Aniah averred that the government cannot do it alone, hence the appeal to stakeholders to support the government to address the burden.
In their separate remarks, the Behavioral Change Communication Adviser of Society For Family Health, Mrs. Momoh Mercy, a Community Leader Ogbueshi Obinna Maduemezia and Pastor Okoh Sunday Nwafor, explained that since the introduction and usage of treated long-lasting net for prevention of malaria, malaria infection reduced. And that more campaign and sensitisation was required.
Mrs. Momoh Mercy called on stakeholders to support the government in the provision of health services for Deltans.
While Pastor Okoh Nwafor opined that religion has a lot to do being the opium of the people that he would continue to use his religious work to convince his followers on the needs for health safety precautions, Ogbueshi Madurmezia said “Malaria is a killer disease so we must save lives in our communities through continuous sensitization.”
Commenting, an Information Officer of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Comrade Abel Johngold, a journalist and Chairman of the Federal Information Chapel of The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, called on the State Government to sustain provided health facilities across the State with availability of adequate health personnel, better beddings, provision of electricity, security guards, and water supply.
