Abia Information Ministry Pledges Support for Distribution of Three Million Malaria Nets

The Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Sir Okey Kanu, has assured the Malaria Consortium and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) of the Ministry’s readiness to support the successful distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs) across the state.

Prince Kanu gave the assurance when a delegation from the Malaria Consortium, in collaboration with the NMEP and the Abia State Ministry of Health, paid an advocacy visit to the Ministry of Information in Umuahia.

The Commissioner welcomed the delegation and appreciated them for seeking the Ministry’s partnership, describing the visit as an important step towards achieving a successful malaria prevention campaign in the state.

He noted that collaboration among government agencies, development partners and other relevant organisations remains one of the major strengths of the administration of Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR.

According to him, meaningful development can only be achieved when stakeholders work together to deliver programmes that directly improve the lives of the people.

Prince Kanu assured the delegation that the Ministry of Information would provide the needed support through effective publicity, media engagement and public enlightenment to ensure that residents across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state are properly informed and encouraged to participate in the exercise.

He also stressed the need to take the campaign to the grassroots, noting that proper communication and continuous sensitisation would help communities understand the importance of using insecticide-treated nets in preventing malaria.

The Commissioner called for sustained public enlightenment before, during and after the distribution exercise to ensure that the nets are properly collected and used by beneficiaries.

In her remarks, the Head of Department, Films and Public Enlightenment, Mrs. Chinyere Allison Obiajunwa, welcomed the initiative and assured the delegation of the Department’s full support in creating greater public awareness for the campaign.

Mrs. Obiajunwa said public enlightenment was very important to the success of health programmes, especially in addressing wrong beliefs and encouraging people to take advantage of programmes designed for their health and wellbeing.

She added that the Ministry would use appropriate media and communication channels to reach people across different communities and encourage greater participation in the campaign.

Earlier, the SBC Advisor, Malaria Consortium, Mr. Hillary Chukwu, said the delegation visited the Ministry to seek its support, especially in the area of public enlightenment and strategic communication, as Abia prepares for the mass distribution of Insecticide-Treated Nets.

Mr. Chukwu disclosed that about three million Insecticide-Treated Nets would be distributed to households and communities across the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State during the campaign.

He explained that the advocacy visit was aimed at ensuring that members of the public are properly sensitised ahead of the exercise and understand the importance of collecting and properly using the nets.

He stressed that strong collaboration among the Malaria Consortium, NMEP, the Ministries of Health and Information, the media and community stakeholders would be necessary for the success of the campaign.

Mr. Chukwu appealed for sustained publicity and grassroots mobilisation to ensure that the nets get to the intended beneficiaries and are properly used.

He noted that increased awareness and proper use of insecticide-treated nets would go a long way in preventing malaria and supporting the broader goal of eliminating the disease in Abia State.

In his vote of thanks, Mr. Nkemjika Nneji of the Abia State Ministry of Health thanked the Commissioner for Information and the management of the Ministry for receiving the delegation and showing willingness to support the campaign.

He also commended the Malaria Consortium and the NMEP for their continued efforts towards malaria prevention and control.

Mr. Nneji expressed confidence that the partnership would help increase public awareness and ensure the successful distribution and proper use of the nets across Abia State.

He called on all stakeholders to sustain the collaboration in the collective interest of the health and wellbeing of the people of the state.

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