The wife of the Ondo State Governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has flagged off 2.9 million net distributions across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State.
The distribution is in partnership with the Catholic Relief Services and the Ondo State Ministry of Health.
Speaking at the event held at the M.K.O Abiola Park, Akure, Akeredolu who was honoured at the event, expressed appreciation for the honour being done to her, promised to continue to work to ensure that Ondo State becomes Malaria free while charging beneficiaries not to sell their nets to fish farmers.
“It is with great delight that I accept the honour as Net Ambassador. We all know that Malaria posses a great burden to the economic wellbeing of our people. I therefore urge you all to sleep inside your net and prevent mosquito bite that causes malaria.
“The recent survey shows that only 50% of our people have mosquito nets and only 20% use it. Let everybody sleep under the net. Nobody should sell net to fish farmers. These things don’t come free; a lot of money went into this. Let’s use it for what it is meant for”, she added.
The Minister for Health who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro in his opening address affirmed that Malaria had become so rampant that everyone is at risk of coming down with it at least once in a year.
While noting that Malaria is associated with poverty, Dr. Adegbenro stressed that Malaria places a huge burden on the health sector as over 70% of cases are malaria related. Dr. Adegbenro was represented at the event by Dr. Jobayo Adeyeye.
Earlier, the Country Representative of the Catholic Relief Services, Mrs. Rebecca Alambasey emphasized that malaria is a public health challenge and that Ondo State is one of the beneficiary states from the distribution of over 16.5 million nets.
“We are distributing a total of 16.5 million nets and in Ondo State alone, we are going to be distributing 2.9 million nets in all the 18 local government areas of the state”, he added
While urging women to go to their designated collection centres as from tomorrow to pick up their nets and air it under shade for twenty four hours before use
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