USAID TO INVEST 2.3 BILLION DOLLARS IN DISTRIBUTION OF 2.3 MILLION LONG LASTING INSECTICIDE TREATED NETS IN CROSS RIVER STATE

The Primary health Care Boss has advocated for behavioral  change as it concerns the use of LONG LASTING INSECTICIDE NETS. She tasked PHC workers on integration of interventions and programs to build health system. 

The Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Betta Edu has charged stakeholders, partners to sensitize the populace of Cross River state on behavioural change, on how to use long lasting insecticide nets for the right purpose. Dr Edu made this charge at her office in Calabar when she received members of National Campaign Implementation Team on Long Lasting Insecticide Nets 2019 Mass Replacement Campaign on a courtesy call.

The DG while thanking and commending the team, said the last National Malaria Elimination Programme held in 2015 saw distribution of long lasting insecticide nets across the length and breadth of Cross River. She added that, after this exercise which reached 2.3 million homes PHC facilities have continued to give LLIN to pregnant women during ANC. 

Dr. Edu maintained that Cross River state is one of the states in the federation that has the largest coverage of LLINs distribution. The Cross River state  Primary Healthcare attributed this to the proactive nature of her Boss, the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade and the encouragement gotten from his dear wife, Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs.) Linda Ayade who also double as National Malaria Ambassador. She said, "the Governor and his wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Linda Ayade have been doing a lot to encourage good and proper use of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets across the state. She goes to houses of residents of Cross River to teach them how to use the nets and also discourages them from using for agricultural purposes other than sleeping under it"

The DG while imploring PHC workers to always use any opportunity of health intervention programme to also create awareness on malaria. She reiterated that the Agency runs an integrated programme. Furthermore, she appealed for inclusion of over 20000 Cameroonian refugees in the state in the programme. 

She commended the Federal Government of Nigeria, USAID for their supportive roles in elimination of malaria in the state. She however advised that the advocacy too be pushed to traditional rulers, police, the force on the need to talk to their subjects on proper use of the nets and also meet with UNHCR on how to reach resettled refugees. 

Earlier speaking, the NatIonal Campaign Implemention Team Leader, Mr. Godwin Aidenagbon applauded the state primary healthcare DG, Dr. Betta Edu for her giant strides recorded so far. He said, over 2.3 million LLINS are in the state for distribution across the 18 LGAs and that micro planning was the first step. 

According to Mr. Godwin, PHC staff at the ward and LGA levels are key to achieving a successful awareness campaign, and that, their focus is also on tackling the issue of migration in the border communities of the state. 

He disclosed that as at Wednesday, 10 containers of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets has arrived CRS, and campaigns will begin in April. that they are here to seek support from the Agency. 

Present at the meeting were Alhaji Shuaibu Abdullahi of National Malaria Elimination Program in Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Idowu Akanmu of Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Hon. Joseph Idege Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Healthcare, media team from the Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation and the state Malaria Elimination program , Dr. Asuquo Ekwe who specifically said the state emphasizes on proper use of mosquito nets and that they are willing to support in terms of man power and any other support humanly possible.