Mortein, state ministries partner against malaria

In continuation of its fight against Malaria  and as part of activities marking this year’s World Malaria Day, Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Nigeria, makers of Mortein  insecticide Brand, has joined forces with the Lagos, Ogun and Abia State Governments and the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) Abuja, to upscale action for the elimination of malaria in Nigeria.

This, the brand hopes to achieve through community engagement, continued investment and sustained efforts.

The community engagement saw officials from the States Ministry of Health and Reckitt Benckiser carry out sanitation, free malaria testing and consultation in all the four states: Abuja, Abia, Ogun and Lagos States.

They also went round communities to sensitise and educate residents on the immense benefits of maintaining clean environment as one of the most cost effective ways to reduce mosquitoes which are the major carriers of malaria parasite.

The General Manager, RB West Africa, Mr Rahul Murgai, said the community engagement and collaborations are part of numerous consumer engagement activities by the company to stem the prevalence of malaria scourge in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

He  described the partnership with the States and Federal Government, which had been on-going for years,  as a demonstration of the company’s commitment to the anti-malaria fight in the country towards a clean and heathy Nigeria.

Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Leferink Aliza explained that, through the grassroots community engagement, the brand would educate communities on the importance of hygiene, and how the simple habit of maintaining clean surroundings and drainages can significantly help to reduce malaria.

According to Aliza, an estimated 100 million malaria cases with over 300,000 deaths  were being recorded every year in Nigeria, mostly among children under the age of five.

Reiterating Mortein’s commitment to eradicating Malaria, Marketing Manager Mortein, RB West Africa, Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola stated that Mortein had been at the forefront of the fight against Malaria in Nigeria.

“In the past few years, Mortein has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), Lagos state Ministry of Health (LSMOH) and various state ministries of health to foster education on malaria prevention via TV infomercials, Education at primary healthcare centers and the Mortein Own a Community Project,” Omotola stated.