By Kemi Olatunde

Ondo State Government has inaugurated a 15-man committee for a World Bank assisted project, Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) to reduce under five mortality rate in Ondo state.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka said the project would impact and strengthen the health sector, noting that it aims to reduce the under five mortality rate by 40 percent in the first phase.

“As at 2020 when IMPACT started, the national mortality was 132 percent. However, Ondo state under five mortality rate is 65 percent per 1000 life birth, reducing by 40 percent will bring us to 25 percent.  We are far better than the national figure but we are going to do more to reduce it more.”

Ajaka explained that the developmental objective of the project was to improve utilization and quality of immunization and malaria services

While charging the committee, Ajaka said “we have an herculean task before us, this programme started in 2020 and it is a five-year project, that means we have just two years to implement the programme.

“We need to speed up the implementation, the Project Implementation unit and the steering committee are to work together as fast as possible to achieve the goal of the project

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Pharm ( Mrs) Folukemi Aladenola while giving the welcome address, announced that State Steering Committee had received the formal approval of the Governor and has made available the commitment fee of N80 million for malaria project with World Bank to support the reduction of malaria prevalence in the State.

She noted that the gesture of the government was a reflection of the state government’s commitment to advancing healthcare and ensuring the health of the people is taken care of.

She sought for collaboration amongst all stakeholders, development partners, Civil Society Organizations and the general public to continue a war against malaria so as to achieve a malaria free Ondo State and Nigeria at large.

The  State Malaria Programme Manager, Dr Waheed Folayan noted in his overview that the IMPACT malaria  project would strengthen coordination, collaboration and strategic partnership to promote efficiency and effectiveness towards achieving at least 75 percent improvement from the basis.

The committee comprises the Commissioner for Health as the Chairman,  the Commissioner for Finance as co-chairman, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget as member, Accountant General,  Permanent secretary Ministry of Health and heads of other agencies in the health sector and Civil society organisation.