Agency The Enugu State Government has designated 549 health facilities for free malaria treatment across the state to boost access to healthcare. The Enugu State Malaria Elimination Programme coordinator, Dr Ifeoma Otiji, disclosed this during the Advocacy, Communication, and Social Mobilisation Core-Group Quarterly Meeting on Tuesday in Enugu. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that officials from the National Malaria Elimination Programme, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, the media, and health officers attended the meeting.
The meeting focused on strategies for malaria control and elimination. Otiji explained that the health facilities were designated to help eliminate malaria in Enugu. She encouraged residents to visit the centres for free malaria tests and anti-malaria medications.
According to her, malaria treatment is now available at 549 primary, secondary, and private health centres across the state. She emphasised that the state government was prioritising malaria treatment and noted improvements in the availability of anti-malaria medicines in health facilities compared to the past. “If you have a fever, we first test you, and if the result is positive, we treat you,” Ms Otiji said.
She warned that malaria should not be downplayed, especially in pregnant women and babies, as it could have severe consequences, including death. The national coordinator of the Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr Nnenna Ogbulafor stated that malaria cont.
