From SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Borno State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aliyu Salihu Kwaya Bura has flagged off the fourth Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention SMC campaign with a target to totally eliminate Malaria in state.
Performing the ceremony at El Miskin Internally Displaced Persons Camp Madinatu, in Maiduguri Dr. Kwaya Bura noted that despite the COVID-19 pandemic that reduced the WHO health intervention on malaria prevention and treatment, the campaign is generally successful at 90% compared to last year when it was at 80%.
Dr. Bura added that the entire campaign is targeted at 2.1 million children between the months of 3-59 in 2020 but at the end of the third circle, statistics shown that, over 2 million children were mobilized and administered the anti-malaria drugs as well as provided with mosquito nets.
He however thanked WHO for its support and assistance in several emergencies especially, malaria spread prevention, polio eradication and maternal healthcare services apart from the Facilities and equipments.
He urged them to continue its role and maintain the tempo.
The WHO Country Representative Nigeria, Mr Walter Molumba said he highly appreciated the flagging off of the fourth circle by the State.
The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Kwaya Bura commended Governor Zulum for launching a 25 years development plan and 10 years Strategic Transformation Initiative which he assured that WHO has already been a partner in this direction.