Health Boss Seeks Assistance on Malaria Control

Churches in Akwa Ibom have been implored to assist government by functioning as agents of change and vehicles for the conveyance of appropriate malaria control messages in order to stem the tide of the disease.
The Commissioner for health, Dr. Louisa Ukpeh stated this during a thanksgiving service held at Destiny Chapel, to round off the 2010 World malaria day Celebration in the State.
Represented by the State Roll back Malaria Manager, Dr. Godfrey Akro, the Commissioner explained that malaria has remained a major health problem, accounting for seven out of ten visits to the health facility with more than one million deaths recorded annually.
Dr. Ukpeh maintained that one of the key Global Strategies for the implementation of Roll Back Malaria interventions was the establishment of Public-Private Partnership Initiative for resource mobilization towards the prevention and control of the disease, adding that the collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria was in recognition of the capacity of churches to act as agents of change.
While stressing the need for prompt treatment of malaria with appropriate anti-malarial drugs to avoid complications and death, she enjoined the public to eliminate breeding sites of mosquitoes by proper disposal of empty cans, cutting grasses around the houses, regulating water holding plants and other water reservoirs.
Dr. Ukpeh pointed out that her message was a renewed call on church leaders to strengthen the existing partnership, urging them to encourage pregnant women to attend ante-natal care clinics and discourage the provision of such services by unskilled birth attendant.
She noted that the observance of these practices would minimize the incidences of malaria and ensure a healthier population while hoping that the message would bring about the desired behavioural change that would translate to effective control of malaria.