By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
About 1,000 pregnant women have been registered by the Enugu State Government and a group, Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), to access free health insurance scheme in the state, to eliminate malaria.
The benefitting women, which gesture is part of the state’s celebration of World Malaria Day (WMD), would get free malaria testing and treatment; free antenatal services, free delivery and free post-natal care for mother and child.
Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, while receiving an award as Ambassador for Malaria Elimination, pledged to strengthen her commitment to zero malaria prevalence in the state.
Represented by the wife of Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Mrs Chinyere Ugwu, the governor’s wife noted that she would put more effort towards malaria elimination in all ramifications.
According to her, “we will empower women as frontline warriors to ensure concrete actions are taken even at the household level and with concerted efforts of all, the anticipated victory of malaria elimination is within reach.”
Corroborating, the Commissioner for Health, Professor George Ugwu, commended malaria partners, state coordinator and council area focal persons as well as the media for reduction of malaria prevalence from 25.5 per cent to 9.9 per cent.
Ugwu noted that the government is currently running free malaria testing and treatment in 527 health facilities (both government-owned and private facilities) in the state.
According to him, it is “highly possible” there will be reduction to malaria prevalence below five per cent in 2027 and a total elimination of the scourge in its entirety in few years to come in the state.
“We are also getting support from some council areas that procured and distributed insecticide treated nets and some that have enrolled thousands of their residents to the state health insurance scheme free of charge.
“The state is still expecting insecticide treated nets from the National Malaria Elimination Programme and involvement of more partners as well as residents keying into all malaria prevention, testing and treatment programmes,” he said.
The Commissioner noted that the Gov. Peter Mbah-led administration had invested heavily in building 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres, secondary hospitals, two tertiary hospitals and a 300-bed international hospital in Enugu metropolis.
He appreciated health partners – ECEWS, Johns Hopkins University Affiliate (jhpiego), Real Pharmaceutical Ltd, WHO, UNICEF and council, ward and community malaria focal persons, among others, for their unwavering support in the fight against malaria.
Speaking, Project Director of ECEWS, Chief Ayodele Alegbeleye, said that earlier in the week ECEWS, other partners and the state’s Health Ministry took malaria elimination message directly to residents through a malaria awareness walk and flier distribution.
Alegbeleye said that the walk engaged women, children, youths, law enforcement officers and senior citizens; thus, promoting prevention measures, early testing, and effective treatment, and information on free malaria testing and treatment in health facilities.
“The next day, Wednesday, we carried out free medical outreach in five selected health facilities in Enugu State. Today, we are supporting the state in enrolling 1,000 pregnant women into the state health insurance scheme.
“Through strengthened collaboration, community-driven action, and sustained advocacy, ECEWS remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s path to a malaria-free future,” he added.
The Health Ministry awarded Best Malaria Elimination Supportive LG Chairman to the Chairman of Enugu East council area, Rev. Beloved-Dan Anike, and the Best Malaria Elimination Supportive LG Focal Person to Mr Kyrian Ezeh, working in Udenu LGA.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Some of the participants at the event.
