The Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN), has appealed to the Ogun State government to develop all its primary health care centres.
The malaria advocacy group made the appeal on the sidelines of a media briefing on Global Fund Malaria Accountability and Advocacy Project in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Tuesday.
Briefing newsmen, the State coordinator of ACOMIN, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olatunji, while commending the Ogun State government for its interventions in the health sector, appealed that it should make good of its electioneering promise of renovating one health care centre per ward.
She also urged the government to ensure that other existing primary health centres in the state are not neglected while decrying inadequate funding for malaria interventions, staff shortage and the dearth of drugs and long-lasting insecticide-treated nets in some health facilities.
The state coordinator equally bemoaned charges for malaria services in some health facilities, despite enormous support by Global Fund on Malaria intervention.
“We acknowledge the commitment of the Ogun State government to health care development. However, we must not fail to add that there’s a growing need for funding for malaria intervention by the government at all levels. There’s also need for supply of beds and mattresses in some health facilities like Kuto, Abeokuta South local government as well as in Owuwu Health centre at Imeko-Afon local government.
“There is also a need for support to tackle issues associated with electricity and water supply, beds in areas like Keesi Health centre in Abeokuta South local government, Ilobi, Ipaja and Itoro health centres in Yewa South local government area,” she submitted.
While restating the group’s commitment to advocating best practices for malaria control, the State Program officer, ACOMIN, Chika Obioma, called for more support from community development associations and ward development committees.
Obioma said communities must support the advocacy for malaria eradication in the state and by extension Nigeria.
and then