The wife of the Kwara state governor, Ambassador Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, has been inaugurated as the Malaria Ambassador to lead the charge against eliminating challenges related to Malaria in the state.

Leading a team comprising the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Society for Family Health and Malaria partners in the state to the First Lady of Kwara state, Ambassador Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, in continuation of the advocacy drive for a successful Malaria related intervention in the state at the weekend, the state commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, said that malaria remains a formidable foe, “as it continues to claim the lives of our loved ones, causing immense pain and loss, especially among our children and pregnant women.”

The state Health commissioner, who said that the investiture of the First Lady marked a significant milestone in the collective journey to combat malaria, added that combating malaria is one of Nigeria's most pervasive health challenges.

The commissioner appreciated the contribution of the wife of the governor and her collaboration with the Kwara State Ministry of Health through her pet project, the Ajike People Support Centre, towards ensuring good health and well-being of children and women.

She noted that the various multi-pronged support has yielded positive results, including a drop in malaria prevalence from 27% to 20% in the general population and as low as 6% for severe malaria in children under the age of five years.

In her remarks, after being decorated as the Malaria Ambassador for Kwara state by the commissioner for Health, the First Lady, Ambassador Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, said she has taken the new assignment with a grateful heart and all sense of responsibility.

Ambassador Abdulrazaq noted that the investiture would deepen her commitment to creating awareness and ensuring significant community acceptance of the various interventions aimed at eliminating challenges related to Malaria.

She promised to put in her best towards promoting good health and wellbeing of the good people of Kwara state, while she appreciated the state's health team and partners for supporting the implementation of quality health care service delivery in the state.

The Managing Director of the Society for Family Health, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, represented by his deputy, Dr Jennifer Anyanti, said, “We believe that, with her unwavering dedication to public health and passion for creating positive change, Her Excellency will champion the mission to eradicate malaria and raise awareness about its devastating impact in the state.

Furthermore, “as the Malaria Ambassador, the First Lady of Kwara state will play a pivotal role in advocating for malaria prevention, treatment, and research efforts, using her influential voice.

“She will support initiatives to increase public awareness, encourage community engagement, and mobilise resources for malaria elimination campaigns. Her passion for public health and commitment to making a difference will undoubtedly inspire change. We will work tirelessly to raise awareness, promote prevention, and ultimately eliminate malaria from Kwara State”.

The Kwara State Ministry of Health and the Society for Family Health, both sub-recipients in the Global Fund Malaria 2021-2023 grant in Nigeria, are in partnership to eliminate malaria in Kwara state through the implementation of the year 2023 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) and Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) as an integrated mass campaign along with other partners.

It is recalled that the integrated SMC/ITN was flagged off on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in Ilorin as the first integrated SMC/ITN mass campaign in the world.

A total of 2,292,209 Insecticide Treated Nets will be distributed to the people of Kwara State through a door-to-door approach to all residents of the state, while a total of 2,283,800 SPAQ will be administered to eligible children aged 3-59 months.

The objective of the integrated SMC/ITN mass campaign is to provide one bed-net for every two residents of the state and provide every eligible child with a full course of SPAQ. Simultaneous household registration and distribution of ITNs and SPAQ commenced on Thursday, October 19, and will end on November 1, 2023.

In the same vein, the Malaria Ambassador, Her Excellency, The First Lady of Kwara State, brings on board her wealth of experience and a deep understanding of global health issues to this role. Her involvement will further strengthen the country's resolve to combat malaria, a disease that continues to affect millions of lives worldwide.