Roll back malaria: FG distributes 11.5m ITNs for campaign

The Federal Government has distributed more than 11.5 million insecticide treated nets (ITNs) since the campaign, ``roll back malaria'' started in 2000.
The minister of health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, disclosed this wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen at a conference organised to mark the African Malaria Day.
He said an evaluation of the activities of the programme showed that 70 per cent households had at least one ITN while 38 per cent of under -5 children slept under ITN.
The minister recalled that African leaders in April, 2000 in Abuja identified the concern of malaria and vowed to intensify the fight against it.
``Since then, there has been a heightened effort at international, regional, country and community levels to win the fight against the scourge,'' he said.
He said it was on that occasion that the African leaders declared and dedicated April 25 of every year for commemorating African Malaria Day.
Lambo said, the target of the leaders, was to ensure that at least 80 per cent of those suffering from malaria, would have access to effective and affordable treatment within 24 hours of onset of the symptoms.
It also targeted that 89 per cent of pregnant women had access to intermittent preventive treatment and 80 per cent of those at risk of malaria, particularly under-5 children and pregnant women, sleep under ITNs.
The minister said the message of the event this year, ``is to remind all that malaria is preventable, treatable and curable, and that with sustained efforts, we can collectively free African of the burden of malaria'.
Lambo urged all Nigerians, to join hands with government in the fight against malaria, adding that it caused a vicious cycle of under-development.
``Ill health begets poverty and poverty begets under-development, '' he explained.
In a goodwill message at the occasion, the WHO hyfhyfghf’;l’;;l;l;Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Peter Eriki, commended Nigeria for increased commitment to the fight against the scourge.
``From the evidence generated, there has been increased political commitment and increased budgetary allocation to malaria control,'' he said.