By: Wilbet Ijeoma
Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) saddled with the implementation projects on malaria, immunization and nutrition in Nigeria since 2010, organized a media meeting with its partners, the Delta State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (SACA) and Society for Family Health (SFH) as Technical Service Organizations (TSOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and the Press, in a renewed bid and collaboration to promoting and achieving improved malaria and health outcomes while eliminating malaria owing to its severity in Nigeria, as Nigeria reportedly accounts for approximately 27% of the global malaria burden in 2021 and 31% of the estimated malaria deaths worldwide.
The event which took place at Bellwood Hotel Asaba Delta State on Friday 28th June 2024 was mediated by the Press, bringing together critical stakeholders such as Delta SACA, Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency (DSPCDA ), Society for Family Health (SFH) and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) at community level, graciously attended by some opinion leaders in the State, to chart a way forward in addressing issues bordering on effective prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support services for infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis (TB) and other epidemic diseases bedevilling vulnerable population and those in remote or underserved areas.
The renewed bid for collaboration is on the heel of the successful completion of the NFM 3 Malaria Grant which made Global Fund to approve another three-year Malaria Grant for Nigeria to be implemented by the community-based components of ACONIM, with the objectives of improving the availability accessibility, affordability, acceptability and quality of healthcare services, educating community leaders and members on identifying gaps, utilizing data for advocacy at various levels while promoting community participation and ownership of the healthcare programme.
The media briefing organized by ACONIM was anchored by its State Program Officer (SPO), Sir Austin Uwede, against the backdrop of the high incidence of malaria cases in Nigeria, and Delta State in particular, attributed to plethora of challenges such as inadequate funding, inadequate staffing, poor record keeping and documentation, equipment shortages, regular stockouts of medical supplies and high treatment costs, which calls for sustained engagement with relevant stakeholders.
In a media brief, State Program Officer (SPO) and convener of the event, Sir Uwede underscored the need for sustained malaria healthcare interventions especially in underserved areas of Delta communities. Speaking further, the SPO stated that the project is presently ongoing in 10 Local Government Areas of Delta State which is one of the 13 states presently benefiting from the grant, amongst Ogun, Osun, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Gombe, Yobe, Katsina, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger and Jigawa States.
Responding to Journalists on the limited number of states and LGAs in Delta State selected for the exercise, Sir Uwede explained that the GF selects and supports facilities for interventions in the selected States and LGAs.
“In order to achieve progress in the journey towards the elimination of malaria, we as a people under the leadership of our government at national, state and local levels should implement a combination of measures that include prevention strategies, improved access to diagnostics and treatment, health education and promotion, as well as community partnership”; Sir Uwede remarked as he reeled out successes recorded this year in Delta State which include but not limited to; procurement and donation of 10 plastic chairs to Uwheru Primary Health Centre in Ughelli North LGA by a philanthropist, purchase and donation of 50 electric bulbs to Ugborhen Primary Health Centre by the ED of Community Empowerment and Development Initiative, fumigation of Ukwu-Oba Primary Health Centre in Aniocha South LGA by a community philanthropist, and rehabilitation of sign post at Uwheru Primary Health Centre by the community. The State Program Officer however called on the government, the private sector and community stakeholders to commit to improving the funding and resources for primary healthcare delivery, increasing awareness creation and active advocacy, volunteer, support and participation in community-based health projects.
In earlier remarks, the State Coordinator of ACONIM, Pastor Greg Sifo discussed issues bordering on sexual exploitation as a bait to contracting diseases under the thematic areas of the project such as HIV/AIDs and Tuberculosis, attributing such susceptibility to poverty and lack of moral will to resist sexual advances. Giving credence to this, Mrs. Mercy Momoh of the Society for Family Health (SFH) affirmed that poverty sometimes leads to sexual concession and exploitation.
On the issue of eradicating malaria, Mrs. Momoh emphasized the need for concerted effort by critical stakeholders like community-based CSOs and the Media in ensuring that malaria awareness is taken to the people at the grassroots and the pandemic is kicked out of our society. Speaking further, she confirmed that the Society for Family health works with IPC at local government level to ensure the campaign gets to the people, especially on issues bordering on clearing of overgrown grasses around the surroundings, controlling of water pools and the use of mosquito treated net when sleeping.
Prominent in the discussion was a Director of Delta State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (SACA), Mrs. Grace Sifo, who mentioned an ongoing integration programme of all diseases in the state including HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM), and underscored that reporting is key while charging the implementing community-based organizations CBOs to report the progress of healthcare service deliveries, state of Primary Health Centres facilities and talk about all diseases in their community mobilization for health programmes.
The interactive session involved participants fielding questions from Journalists at the event which covered myriads of public issues and concerns such as inadequate funding, staffing, recruitment of workforce considering the human capital fight arising from the “Japa Syndrome” typical of health workers in Nigeria, influence of religious and cultural beliefs, the preference of black man therapy (herbs) in the treatment of malaria, vandalization of primary healthcare facilities and infrastructure amongst others.
Reacting to questions on staffing, funding and recruitment, Sir Uwede confirmed that efforts are being made by the government to recruit workforce against the backdrop of depleted workforce in the health sector, while canvassing for healthcare volunteers in the local communities. He however decried the misuse of mosquito nets as well as hoarding of it for retailing which has made the nets inaccessible to the people needing it, stressing that the lifespan of the treatment on the net is 3 years. .
Speaking further on the preference of the black man therapy (herbs), the Delta SPO of ACONIM stressed that the difference between black and white man therapy is the dosage, and when the dosage cannot be measured or ascertained, it becomes harmful. Mrs. Sifo of Delta SACA agrees to this by condemning herbs as a therapy for treating malaria while advocating that people should be predisposed to accessing free drugs for malaria at PHC and procure treated nets for use at home, assuring that the State Government is getting ready for another round of distribution of treated nets. Lending her voice to the need of taking certified malaria drugs, the representative of Society for Family Health, Mrs. Mercy Momoh emphasized that ACT is the only proven malaria therapy by WHO and stressed the need of taking and completing the dosage.
Responding to Journalists on the influence of religion and culture on people’s disposition to accessing healthcare for malaria, Sir Uwede explained that ignorance and religiosity is a bane to treatment of malaria as some person belief in prayer and religion too much that they don’t take drugs which has led some persons to their untimely death.
On vandalization of healthcare facilities and infrastructure, Pastor Sifo decried the level of wickedness exuded by miscreants in affected communities who are supposed to protect and benefit from these infrastructures and charged stakeholders to reach out to the community leadership in view of finding a lasting solution to this challenge.
Eminently present at the event were the Delta State Program Officer of ACONIM, Sir Austin Uwede, Delta State Coordinator of ACOMIN, Pastor Greg Sifo, State Project Coordinator ATM, Ms. Juliet Obiajulu, Director Delta State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (SACA), Mrs. Grace Sifo, Representative of Society for Family Health, Mrs. Mercy Momoh , some stakeholders in the local communities, and CSO/CBO partners.
Highpoints of the event were goodwill messages by participating partners, press briefing by the coordinator and convener, interactive question and answer session moderated by the Press, vote of thanks and group photograph.
