Lagos slum residents get mosquito nets

The over 5,000-member Gidan Kwali, an enclave under the Maryland bridge in Ojota, Lagos State, came alive yesterday when Ikeja Electric (IE) in partnership with Hygeia HMO took its We Care campaign to the slum community to sensitise it on the dangers of mosquito bites and how to prevent malaria, a deadly killer disease in tropical Africa.

The campaign also saw the distribution of thousands of mosquito-treated nets as part of activities to mark the World Malaria Day. No one was left out in the predominantly Hausa settlement as the young and old gathered to learn about keeping malaria at bay through the proper use of the mosquito nets.

Ikeja Electric’s Chief Technical Coordinator, Engr. Sunday Oyewole, said as part of being corporate socially responsible, “we are not only giving power but enlightening the community on how to protect themselves against malaria because the disease kills a lot of people, especially children under the age of five.

“We notice that this community is infested with mosquitoes because of its topography as the area is sited by a canal. The nets will not only prevent malaria but it will reduce mosquitoes in the environment as any mosquito that perches on the net dies immediately.”

Leader of the Gidan Kwali community, Alhaji Attihiru Hassan, thanked the firm for the gesture. “It will help us immensely, especially those boys who sleep in the open stalls and under the bridge. We are happy you chose our community. We are also enjoying your light but the bill is too much, please do something to reduce it for us,” he said.