Borno targets 1.1 million children in fight against malaria campaign

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with Borno State government has flagged off seasonal Malaria Prevention Campaigns (MPCs) against malaria for 1.1 million children in the state.

The joint malaria campaigns, which target children between the ages of three tofive, are to cover 13 selected local councils in Borno.Launching the campaign yesterday, in Maiduguri, at the Farm Centre; Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, the State Coordinator of WHO, Dr. Audu Auta, said the campaigns had already begun in the selected councils, including the security compromised local councils of Ngala and Monguno.

According to him, “malaria is responsible for more than 50 per cent of deaths in the state.”He said that the UN’s health agency’s data also indicated that children under the age of five were more vulnerable to malaria.

Auta urged residents and IDPs to avoid stagnant water in their communities and resettlement camps.Governor Kashim Shettima lauded WHO’s untiring efforts on the roll back malaria programme in the country.

Shettima, who was represented by his deputy, Usman Durkwa said: “It is expected that the anti-malaria drug administrators will be visiting households to administer the first dose of the four cycles. This is with the hope to reduce the trend of illness caused by malaria in Borno.