The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis/Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) has said that it is ready to carry out distribution of 4.4million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) to prevent the deadly mosquitoes contributing to the mortality rate in the country.
In 2022, Nigeria was said to have accounted for 22 percent of cases among other countries. 2020 indices showed that Nigeria recorded 27 percent ahead of DR of the Congo.
Meanwhile, Bauchi State in collaboration with development partners like USAID and Breakthrough Action is distributing the net. The Chairman of BATCATMA, Dr. Sani Mohammed, said that the Agency expected two people to use a net, hence sharing 4.4million net.
Speaking at a media parley organised before the distribution campaign, a media consultant, Nura Faggo, citing National Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) of 2021, said that Bauchi has 32 percent malaria prevalence.
“Evidence has shown that Nigeria accounts for 66million estimated malaria cases annually according to the World malaria report 2022. With almost half —44 percent of children under 5 years having fever in Bauchi state, says 2021 NMIS.”
He said that malaria fever has impacted negatively on the economy of the state, saying that it has contributed to absenteeism from school, office, farms, market and others.
He urged the media to step up a campaign on net usage to reduce the treatment burden on both the government and families. He said that the treatment of the preventable disease gulps billions from the government account.
