CHAI, others begin community outreach to end malaria

Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN) in collaboration with Access Bank Nigeria and other partners such as Dangote Foundation, Zenith Bank, Huawei, Hacey Health Initiative and Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI) commences the community outreach programme to end malaria in Nigeria tagged “Malaria To Zero: From Commitment To Action.”

Malaria is a major health and development challenge in Nigeria. Globally, a child dies every two minutes from malaria. The disease represents a major drag on Nigeria’s human development indices associated with up to 11 per cent of maternal mortality ratio, 25 per cent of infant mortality rate, and 30 per cent of under-five mortality rate.

The Programme Manager, Grace Iwagu, in a statement, said the vision of the malaria to zero initiative is to address the underlying causes of under-performance and disrupt the low- level equilibrium in malaria outcomes. It seeks to reach over 20 million lives and save at least one million lives particularly women and children in Nigeria over the next four years.

The project is starting this month in various southwest states in Nigeria. It involves distribution of long lasting insecticide nets, Indoor residual spraying, community engagement with stakeholders such as traditional rulers, religious leaders, nursing mothers, market women, married men, artisans, youth leaders etc. The target is to reach at least 300,000 lives in 30 communities across five states namely, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo.