By Kemi Olatunde
About seventy four thousand children die annually as a result of malaria in Nigeria. The project coordinator for the IMPACT programme in Ondo State, Dr Waheed Folayan, disclosed this during a presentation on the malaria component at a State Steering Committee meeting for the second quarter of the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project.
He explained that Ondo State was selected because it had been without support for malaria control for years, adding that the lack of malaria financing was expected to result in increased mortality.
Dr Folayan noted that the malaria component of the project would strengthen service delivery and the healthcare system in the state.
Speaking at the event, which took place at Mydas Hotels, Owo, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka, reiterated that the fund, which he described as a loan with a lifespan of 25 years, was secured by the Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to fight the scourge of malaria among children under five and women of childbearing age.
According to him, the project would improve access to healthcare services in the 203 wards of the state.
Dr Ajaka emphasised the importance of accountability on the part of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), urging them to work as a team to ensure that the state benefits from the project.
In his presentation, the Project Manager for the Immunization Plus component, Dr Kunle Omode of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, stated that children under five and women would be the key beneficiaries of the programme, adding that it would positively impact the healthcare system and the overall population of the state.
Some of the recommendations of the State Steering Committee members included the involvement of secondary facilities, collaboration with line ministries such as Education and Environment, the involvement of academia for research and documentation of success, rigorous advocacy to domesticate results, and alignment with government programmes and actions.