The Plateau State Malaria Elimination Program Team has pledged its commitment to ensuring malaria prevention for children aged 3 to 59 months. During a press conference in Jos on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, the team outlined their strategies and measures aimed at eradicating malaria in the state.
Nurse Kizito Ndak, the Team Lead of the Plateau State Malaria Elimination Program, accompanied by the Programme Manager of the Malaria Consortium and other team members, emphasized the program’s readiness and recent accomplishments.
“We have engaged over 12,000 individuals across the 17 local government areas to carry out this malaria prevention process. Governor Caleb Mutfwang has supported this initiative by providing the necessary funding, and we have involved stakeholders from various sectors to drive home the importance of this program,” said Nurse Ndak.
The program’s second cycle, set to begin on July 25, will distribute preventive malaria medication to children in the targeted age group. All necessary medications have been delivered to local governments, and the distribution is already in progress.
“In the first cycle, we reached 950,000 children. Our goal is to ensure that all children under five receive this preventive medication. We are continuously working to create awareness and prevent malaria and mortality in children under five,” Nurse Ndak added.
The Malaria Consortium has also implemented digital monitoring tools to oversee the distribution process and address any challenges in real time. This technology enables the team to track the movement of community drug distributors and supervisors, ensuring efficient and accurate delivery of medications.
Despite facing challenges such as difficult terrain and security risks, the program has managed to operate without any incidents. The stipends for community drug distributors have been increased to encourage their efforts and commitment.
“We understand the sacrifices made by our team members. While we have increased their stipends, we also emphasize that their work is invaluable and critical to humanity. We appreciate their dedication and hard work,” Nurse Ndak concluded.
The Plateau State Malaria Elimination Program remains dedicated to its mission of eradicating malaria and ensuring the health and well-being of children in the state. The team plans to continue its efforts until the end of October, aiming to reach even more children and prevent the spread of malaria.
