By Baba Shehu Oscu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) is to embark on Environmental Management as part of this Year’s World Malaria Day celebration in the state.
Addressing journalists at the Agency’s headquarters in Bauchi, the Executive Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Sambo Alkali said the campaign was to sensitize the selected communities on the causes of malaria.
According to Alkali, malaria is a disease caused by a protozoan called plasmodium, transmitted from one human to another by an infected female anopheline mosquito were it affected under aged children, pregnant mothers and people coming from non endemic countries.
BACATMA Executive Chairman who said according to reports, in Bauchi State malaria prevalence in children under five is twenty percent, pointed out that malaria can be prevented through health education, early diagnosis and treatment, use of long-lasting insecticidal nets among others.
He said the focus of National and State Malaria elimination Programme was to improve in case management and diagnosis, advocacy and social mobilization as well as fostering dynamic partnership.
He identified the recent distribution of 3.8 mosquito nets, house to house mobilization, outreach activities as some of the achievements recorded by the Agency in twenty eighteen.
Dr. Alkali said inadequate Malaria commodities, poor awareness among communities on malaria management and poor environmental sanitation are some of the challenges affecting Malaria Elimination Programme in the state.
The theme of this Year’s World Malaria Day is “Zero malaria start with me.” He said all stakeholders will be carried along to ensure effective and success of the program in Bauchi State.
