By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Dr Linda Ayade during the event to mark this year World Malaria Day at Ugep, Yakurr LGA, Cross River State promised to sponsor a bill to the Cross River State House of Assembly to ban the use of long lasting insecticide treated net for farming in Cross River State.
According to her, the hunt malaria initiative was the first program she embarked on when she assumed the office of First Lady of the state.
She said the reason for taking up the fight against malaria was solely the reason that malaria kills mercilessly and about 95% of people in Nigeria have at one point or the other being hit by malaria further draining our economic strength.
This year’s slogan “Push for Prevention” became necessary because her NGO, Mediatrix Development Foundation in collaboration with Etisalat fight malaria, State Malaria Elimination Program would distribute Long Lasting Treated Insecticide Nets (LLTINs ) to students and communities.
Also, because of the digital age we would continue the distribution of computer devices installed with malaria preventive programs to students in schools across the state.
“Already we have distributed desktop computers to some schools in Southern and Northern part of State. We want to promise that the intervention will not end there. More of it is coming from my NGO Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF).”
She lauded Etisalat for their continuous support while assuring the people that the end of Malaria is near if we all work aggressively towards it.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong who was represented by Dr. Itam Arikpo thanked Her Excellency, Dr Linda Ayade for being versatile and using her NGO to do good works in the healthcare for Cross Riverians.
She said the Ministry will continue to support the fight against malaria in the state.
She emphasized on the need to hang up nets in homes of Cross Riverians who are not using it for the intended purposes.
She also kicked against the use of nets for agricultural purposes.
The Commissioner for Information, Mrs RoseMary Archibong poured encomium on the wife of the Governor, Dr Linda Ayade for working assiduously to advocate the fight against malaria across the state.
She implored local governments to also key into the novelty program of the first lady and eradicate malaria in Cross River state while applauding the DG, CRSPHCDA Dr Betta Edu for partnering with Mediatrix Development Foundation in the fight against malaria.
Earlier Speaking, the Director General, Dr Betta Edu in her opening speech, said “What we want to see today and after now is reduction in mortality associated with malaria, an end to malaria and end to use of treated insecticides nets for agricultural purposes.
“As we gather today to fight malaria in the state, we want you to ignite the fire in young ambassadors who will take the message down to the villages and sensitize the people about Malaria prevention and this indiscriminate abuse of Mosquito treated net.
“This is completely unacceptable and a ban is being issued to that effect as it is harmful to humans.
Present at the event where Directors from the Agency; Dr Ana Onebiene, Dr Asuquo Ekwe, the State Malaria Elimination Program Manager, the representative of WHO Dr Edmund Egbe, Permanent Secretary of CRSPHCDA, Mr Echeghe Mark, Board Secretary, Dr Eric Edrah, Executive Director of Mediatrix Development Foundation, Jeffrey Adamade and the Principal of Community Secondary School, Ugep, Dr Joy Inah. Rep. From CUSO international, chiefs traditional rulers, clan heads, yakkur women association etc.