DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
Today, we join many other States and our Nation to celebrate the World Malaria Day. This occasion always affords everyone a chance to share experience and obtain new information necessary in the implementation of an integrated malaria control activities, so that the concerned Nations can support each other in the on-going efforts to eliminate malaria.
The global importance accorded to this event highlights the level of threat which malaria has come to pose in the effective health care delivery of many Nations, including Nigeria.
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Mosquito, as we all know is the major carrier of malaria parasite which is bred in stagnant water, including ponds, containers, pots etc. Our vulnerable children are mostly the victims of malaria parasites, and whenever treatments are not administered in time, these lead to deaths or disabilities.
Today, malaria continues to threaten more than 40% of the world population, making it the public enemy number one, outside those other challenges that are man-made.
Every year, more than 500 million people suffer from malaria and over a million children die from malaria related diseases; while 90% of world malaria deaths occur in Africa alone. Malaria remains one of the biggest problems in Africa contributing to loss of active man-hour amongst our workforce and it is indeed threatening to our economy.
To wage an effective fight against malaria, this year’s edition of World Malaria Day has adopted as its theme: ‘Invest in the future: Defeat Malaria’.
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This theme is significant as it serves as a wake-up call for policy makers and the citizenry to act now, if we must defeat malaria and save the future threat it poses to our health, especially our vulnerable children who are our future leaders.
The World Malaria Day commemoration is also set aside to challenge our communities to mobilize to fight malaria, and to especially sensitize and draw media attentions to the scourge of malaria. These activities are necessary if we must win the war against malaria.
Today, it is more evident that healthy communities create more vibrant, inclusive and active people and economies that thrive and serve the Nation. Since the Millenium Development Goals were launched, we have been seeing good evidence to show that fighting malaria is a good investment that saves lives and also speeds up the economy.
This is one good reason for all of us to recommit our energies to fight, prevent and control malaria in our environment and in the Nation.
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Any input we make to fight malaria will lead to further reduction in ill-health and deaths due to malaria; it will increase political commitments by Governments, and also improve access to technical and financial resources from national and international partners, who are equally concerned with the fight against malaria.
This is why all of us must sustain our efforts to contain malaria in this Nation, so that the fragile gains already achieved is not reversed in malaria’s favor. We can only succeed when malaria remains at the top of State, National, International, and community political development agenda.
In Abia State, we have achieved significant landmarks through our commitment to fight malaria in the following areas: – We have expanded access to early and reliable diagnosis through our health care centers spread through-out the LGAs, especially present in the rural areas. We have provided anti-malaria treatment to malaria affected areas through de-flooding and distilting of blocked drainages.
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Our Government has created rapid response capabilities to cope with emergency situations that can breed mosquitoes; provided vector control intervention in malaria endemic zones, and support for research and training for medical staff on malaria related issues at all levels. Abia State will continue to support all efforts to sustain the war against malaria in all its ramifications.
I must however, commend the Federal Government of Nigeria, the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health and the International Community for the supports afforded to our State in our fight against malaria. I am also very proud of the Roll-Back Malaria Initiative by the WHO and the Global Fund, which have significantly contributed to the success of our fight against malaria.
Today, I would like to thank all participating organizations, individuals and exhibitors who are present to commemorate the World Malaria Day celebration. Many of you have engaged in Malaria walk-out, and in different ways demonstrated your commitments to promote and provide valuable information that lead to the elimination of malaria in Nigeria.
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I commend you and enjoin you to continue to share experiences and join efforts to ensure we protect all people at risk of malaria disease. All these interventions are necessary for us to completely eliminate malaria by 2015.
I will equally like to express my gratitude to the State Ministry of Health, the Roll-Back Malaria Team, the Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Ltd, and the National Malaria Control Programme, for organizing today’s event which is concluded to fight malaria.
I have a firm belief that in no distant future, Nigeria will be a malaria free zone, so that we begin to address other national challenges more successfully. It is our duty to give our children a healthier future, and that will be a world without malaria!
I thank everyone for your active participation and God bless you!
Tags: World MALARIA DAY
Abia State Government Press Release
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