NGO, ExxonMobil Foundation Intensify Roll Back Malaria Campaign

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Health,Malaria

ThisDayLive

    

In furtherance of its Roll Back Malaria campaign to reduce malaria menace by half in the country, Family Care Association (FCA) in collaboration with ExxonMobil Foundation has embarked on the training of community health workers on modern and effective treatment of malaria.

The partnership is also carrying out enlightenment campaign, diagnosi and treatment of malaria in both pregnant, nursing mothers and students, simultaneously in different locations in Lagos, aimed at stemming incidence of maternal mortality and child morbidity in Nigeria.

At a two-day workshop for Community Health Workers at the Military Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, the activity harped on malaria burden, types of malaria, malaria in pregnancy, congenital malaria and integrated vector control and management of the disease.

In the same vein, a lecture was held for students and staff of Angus Memorial Senior Secondary School, Shomolu, Lagos Besides emphasis on the importance of prompt treatment of malaria to avert severe illness and death, especially in children and pregnant women, the lecture also shed light on how to administer treatment correctly and avoid repeated attacks of Malaria and enlightened participants on mosquito control measures.

Addressing the students of Angus Memorial Senior Secondary School, Dr. Doyin Samuel stressed the importance of cleanliness to eradicating malaria and the importance of sleeping under treated mosquito nets. Treated Mosquito nets were distributed among all the students.

Malaria tests were also carried out on the students with Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDP) KIT which produced results in 15 minutes.

Thereafter, proven cases in the students were treated.  Some RDP kits were also donated to the school for use at the school’s dispensary.

At the Island Maternity, Lagos, another Family Care Association Volunteer Dr. Edwards Okobi shared insights on malaria prevention with pregnant women. The women who were gathered inside the Dr. Dolapo Akisanya Ante Natal ward were also given free treated mosquito nets for home use.

Speaking to journalists during the exercise at the Island Maternity Lagos, Head, Administration and Personnel, Mr. Henry Koleosho lauded the initiative and commended Family Care Association and ExxonMobil for choosing the Island Maternity Lagos.

“This is a laudable initiative on the part of ExxonMobil and Family Care Association. Such gesture is a rare occurrence here which is the more reason why the management of the hospital agreed to play host to the exercise. Several patients and staff members have been tested for Malaria and treated. They have also shared out treated mosquito nets to nursing mothers and pregnant women, and also donated RDP kits to the hospital. It is a noble act and we thank the facilitators,” he concluded.

Residents of Taqwa Bay community also benefitted from the two day exercise, while anti malaria lecture session was held for community health workers.