A’Ibom govt hails US malaria eradication initiative

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has applauded the American Government for extending the US President’s Malaria Initiative to cover the state.

Emmanuel said this while playing host to Dr Marian Wentworth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Management Services for Health during a courtesy call to the Governor in Government, Uyo on Wednesday.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, Emmanuel described the initiative to eliminate malaria in Africa by 2030 as a timely and worthy initiative.

“It is noteworthy that the United States government has always been at the forefront of seeking solutions to humanity’s most seemingly intractable challenges.

“The problem of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa is a monumental scourge that has so far defied medical research efforts,” Emmanuel said.

Emmanuel said that with the American Presidential initiative, the search for a solution to malaria has now assumed utmost priority from very significant quarters.

He described malaria as one of the most devastating killer diseases in Africa, adding that the American initiative was one of the positive fall-outs that Nigeria and other African nations will continue to enjoy from its diplomatic relations with the United States.

He said, “Given the contemporary developments in medical research, there is also need to improve upon diagnostic technology for the disease as well as the development of more potent medicare to eradicate the scourge.”

Earlier in her remarks, Dr Wentworth said that as one of the major NGOs supporting the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, it has supported malaria delivery services in 482 health facilities through training.

Wentworth said that with the ongoing efforts, her team has recorded 99.4 per cent fewer cases of malaria while 99.95 per cent of those who tested positive for malaria received an ACT for treatment.

She said the figures represented a significant improvement in the fight against the scourge of malaria in the state.

She commended the state government for making very significant improvements in its malaria control approaches.