The Islamic Counselling Initiative of Nigeria has donated 1,000 Insecticide-Treated Nets to some communities in Jos North Local Government of Plateau State during its annual medical outreach.
The communities that benefitted from the gesture include Naraguta, Hwol and Yelwa Zangam.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the organisation, Mrs. Fatima Suleiman, said the outreach, which was the 14th edition aimed at preventing malaria in the state.
She said that the free medical outreach, which was supported by the Nasco group of companies, targets pregnant women, children between the age of five and 15 years, and the elderly for screening and distribution of free malaria drugs.
‘’We screen and distribute free drugs during our intervention. We also distribute deworming drugs, multivitamins, and conduct health talks.
‘’The intervention is carried out in deserving communities through an assessment that we feel need the intervention,’ ’she said.
The executive director said in addition to the annual medical outreach, ICIN also conducts sensitisation campaigns on how to maintain a clean environment through proper sanitation and clearing of drainages to destroy the breeding habitats of mosquitoes.
The ICIN official also said that primary healthcare centres in the selected communities are usually engaged during the intervention programmes, adding that they leverage on existing structures for the success of the outreaches.
Speaking while flagging off the outreach, the Village Head of Naraguta community, Mr. Mohammed Bello, urged beneficiaries not to use the nets for domestic purposes.
‘’Do not use the nets for sieving or any purpose outside its intended use of preventing mosquito bites, so as to prevent malaria,‘’ he added.
He thanked the organisation for selecting his community for the intervention programme and promised to cooperate with organisations and the government on initiatives that would improve the welfare of his people.
Bello expressed concerns over the high number of malaria cases recorded in Nigeria and urged the government to be committed to its eradication as it still poses a health hazard.
He stressed that community members also have critical roles to play in the prevention of malaria, especially in imbibing a clean environment and sleeping under mosquito nets.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Amina Salis, thanked the organisation for the intervention and prayed for them to record success in other programmes they are executing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the intervention was also in line with the 2023 theme of world malaria day, “Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement.” (NAN)
SOURCE: PUNCH