From:Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
A group, Civil Societies in Malaria, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has charged communities and citizens in Kaduna State to strengthen community health development committees to drive household-level malaria prevention through improved net use, encouraging early testing, and improving health education within the communities.
Kaduna State Program Manager of ACOMIN, Nicodemus Ogidi, stated this during a press conference held in Kaduna yesterday.
According to him, Nigeria has made commendable progress in the fight against malaria through efforts such as the distribution of Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) and increased usage, improved diagnostics, increased availability and access to treatment, and community health education and interventions such as clearing and reduction of breeding sites.
He, however, said that with recent significant reduction in donor funding and an economic downturn, these gains are under threat.
Mr.Ogidi expressed dismay that the fight against malaria in Nigeria is at a critical crossroads.
“With donor funding rapidly shrinking, we can no longer rely solely on external support to sustain the progress we’ve made. As such there is an urgent need to transition from a dependency-based model to one rooted in local ownership, self-sufficiency, and long-term resilience.”
