Ministry, council distribute drugs, nets in Ogotun-Ekiti

THE Ekiti State Ministry of Health has taken its malaria prevention campaign to Ogotun community in Ekiti South-West Local Government Area of the state.

The ministry urged the people of the community to sleep under  insecticidal nets to prevent malaria attack.

At the outreach, held at the palace of Ologotun of Ogotun-Ekiti, the health officials enlightened the rural dwellers on malaria-prevention methods, distributed insecticidal nets, drugs among other materials free  to the people.

Addressing the gathering of mostly women,  Mrs. M.I. Ibironke, said that malaria was a disease caused by a parasite called plasmodium falciparum, saying it infects the human blood cells through the bite of female anopheles mosquito.

She said that malaria was  endemic in Nigeria, adding that the disease posed “a major health challenge with attendant risk of morbidity and mortality.”

Ibironke added “the most vulnerable groups are women and children below five years of age and pregnant women, particularly women in their first and second trimesters.”

The health expert said they could prevent malaria through the use of insecticidal nets, personal and environmental hygiene and use of recommended drugs.

She said: “it is  important for everyone in the house to use insecticidal nets to prevent mosquito bite.”

Speaking at the event Ologotun of Ogotun, Oba Samuel Oyebade, who charged the people to ensure adequate hygiene, also said they should visit government health centres for proper treatment in the case of ailment, saying time for self-medication based on assumptions was over.

Oba Oyebade, who commended the enlightenment, said: “In times past, houses didn’t have windows and the darkness encouraged the sustenance of mosquitoes. This has changed and we must ensure adequate personal and environmental hygiene. Don’t treat yourselves at home and assume that it was like before. Go for tests at government hospitals and or clinics and do what the experts advise you.”

In his remarks, Chairman of Ekiti South-West Local Government Area, Mr. Lanre Omolase, restated that malaria was “dangerous and deadly because we take it for granted and assume that we know how to handle it,” and charged the rural dwellers not to take malaria for granted.

Omolase, who said the choice of Ogotun for the Malaria Day celebration was borne out of his administration’s promise to hold the programme there, saying “our people must ensure that they go to the right health centres when they need to, because the drugs that would be given there are specified and have doses, unlike the herbs that people take.”

The council boss, who said all malaria drugs had been provided for free at the various health centres, charged the people to report anyone who demanded payment for the drugs.”

He thanked the Ministry of Health personnel and the Ologotun for their support and assured the people of “the continued delivery of the dividends of democracyby the administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose with support and cooperation of our administration at the grassroots.”