Date: 2017-04-30

....distributes insecticide nets, malaria drugs to Ago Oja Community

A Non Governmental Organisation, The Health Builders Initiatives has held its first health sensitisation campaign on malaria by distributing free malaria drugs, mosquitoes repellent creams and Long lasting insecticide nets to the people of Ago Oja Community in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The event was held to commemorate the annual World Malaria Day by the World Health Organisation.

The campaign which was themed : Sensitisation on malaria, was also organized to educate the host community on the malaria prevention, causes ,symptoms and treatment.

The people of the community were tested for malaria and drug was administered to those who tested positive.

Speaking at the campaign, an health practitioner, Pharmacist Taiwo Ogunfemi emphasized that malaria prevention is more of personal intervention than government intervention.

Pharmacist Ogunfemi who is the guest speaker admonished the rural dwellers, particularly the people of Ago Oja Community to ensure that they have a clean environment inorder to mosquitos breeding.

He asked the pregnant women and children under the age of five to sleep under treated insecticide nets.

Another guest speaker, Pharmacist Abdulhakeem Sodehinde asked government to refocus attention towards taming the scourge of malaria, describing it as a silent killer disease.

Also speaking, the media director of the organization, Dr Khadijat Kehinde Kadiri said the campaign was part of the Organization's efforts to achieve its aim of stemming the growth of mortality rate in rural areas.

Dr Kadiri, a lecturer in the department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, noted that the Organization created a platform to curb the influx of mother and child mortality especially among rural dwellers.

She said " We choose malaria for the first campaign due to the alarming research figures that shows malaria still kills'. It's a common disease that should be tackled by government at all levels, organizations, relevant stakeholders and international agencies".

Dr Kadiri stressed the need for support from government, international donors and well meaning individuals in the society to enable the health outreach achieve the desired goals.

"We call on government and private bodies to partner with us in this quest, everyone should have adequate knowledge and access to basic health care. This is the first campaign but it will certainly not be the last", she said.

Responding, the people of Ago Oja Community appreciated the Non Governmental Organization for the sensitization programme and for distribution free malaria drugs as well treating malaria patients in the community.