A non-governmental organization, HACEY Health Initiative, has donated no fewer than 1,000 mosquito nets to residents of the Ojo community in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The mosquito nets targeted at pregnant women and children under five years were distributed by the NGO under its End Malaria Project with support from Access Corporation to combat malaria in the state.
HACEY is a development organization supporting the health, economic inclusion, and rights of vulnerable populations across Nigeria, with a particular focus on women and girls.
The NGO also provides free malaria testing for the residents as well as drugs to those who tested positive for the killer disease.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. In Nigeria, it is a constant and deadly presence.
According to the World Health Organization, Nigeria had nearly 67 million malaria cases in 2022, accounting for 27 per cent of the global malaria burden.
The country accounted for 31 percent of global malaria deaths and 38 percent of deaths in children under five years.
Speaking at the event held at Ojo Cantonment, HACEY’s Program Team Lead, Bamidele Oyewunmi, said the free mosquito nets were crucial to combat malaria in underserved communities.
Oyewunmi said, “We work with underserved communities to ensure they live better lives. We conducted the End Malaria Project with support from Access Corporation to ensure that every member of our beneficiary community gets tested, knows their status, and lives healthily, striving for a malaria-free society.”
On the choice of Ojo Cantonment for the net donation, the program team lead said, “This area, with its environment conducive to malaria parasites, needs attention. We’re not only testing residents but also encouraging them to maintain clean environments, free from the plasmodium parasite. “Our focus today is on pregnant women and children under five, who are particularly vulnerable to malaria.”
He further said, “We aim to test over 500 people and distribute more than 1,000 mosquito nets.
“We want to ensure that every household has treated insecticide mosquito nets to prevent malaria.
“We’re providing free treatments to those who test positive, ensuring comprehensive care.”
Oyewunmi also stressed the importance of educating mothers about malaria during pregnancy.
“Our major focus is on pregnant women and nursing mothers to ensure they understand malaria, know how to seek help and take proper care during pregnancy. This initiative will allow us to test and treat vulnerable children under five.”
According to him, the campaign is part of a broader effort spanning four states: Lagos, Nasarawa, Kwara, and Ekiti.
“With support from Access Corporation, we’re running these projects across Nigeria to ensure every geographical zone is covered.
“We engage key stakeholders and the government to ensure continued support and intervention in these communities”, Oyewunmi said.
Some of the beneficiaries commended the organization for the gesture.
One of them, Tiese Abodunrin, who could not hide her joy said, “I just got tested for malaria. Before now, I used to self-medicate whenever I had a fever. Listening to the doctors, I realized the importance of getting tested. I won’t practice self-medication again.”
SOURCE: PUNCH NEWS
