“Malaria has killed and is killing more children in the third world and Africa more than all the wars in the continent put together”
These were the words of Dr. Tamunoiyoriari Parker, Rivers State Health Commissioner while speaking when the Society for Family Health (SFH) presented 24 microscopes and other accessories to the Malaria Control Unit of the State Ministry of Health in is office in Port Harcourt.
According to Dr. Parker Rivers State is running a malaria elimination programme, through biolarviciding with an integrated approach like the indoor residual spraying. Procurement of Act drugs, insecticide treated bed nets and community mobilization.
The Commissioner who disclosed that one of the challenges we have had in the quest to eradicate malaria is diagnosis because malaria is one of the several forms of fevered illnesses.
He cited filariasis, yellow fever and dengue fever as some of the diseases that are similar to malaria in presentation caused by mosquitoes, stating that “the presentation of microscopes to the malaria unit is appropriate because diagnosis is key in the control and elimination of malaria”
Also speaking the representative of the Society for Family Health Mr. Ben Ofudge said the society for family health is a non profit organization working on reproductive health, maternal and child health, child spacing and family planning, safe water and malaria programme.
According to him SFH in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health through the Global Fund for Malaria Programme is poised to provide additional support by the provision of microscopes because the malaria burden is getting higher across the country. ###
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