Malaria: Advocacy team decries lack of microscopes in health facilities, ITNs for pregnant women

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The State Advocacy Team (SAT) has decried lack of microscopes in health facilities across Zamfara State as it also received complaints from pregnant women for absolute absence of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) for malaria eradication.

This was observed during an advocacy visit by the SAT to the Integrated Vector Management Officer for the State Malaria Eradication Programme, Ummusalma Abubakar, which was aimed to address several pressing issues brought to the attention of the team.

According to the deputy State Coordinator for the Tuberculosis Network, Mr. Abdullahi Lawal, said key among the concerns was the lack of microscopes at facilities such as Tahir Clinic and Wanke PHC under Gusau local government area.

Lawal, who expressed gratitude to Mrs. Abubakar for meeting with the SAT members, recalling that last month, the SAT had visited the logistics Officer of the State Malaria Eradication Program (SMEP) to discuss the urgent need to address the identified gaps.

“We felt it essential to hear the SMEP’s perspective and explore potential solutions regarding the lack of microscopes and the complaints from pregnant women about the absence of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs),” Lawal stated.

Mrs. Abubakar informed the team that it was not the agency’s responsibility to supply equipment to private health facilities such as Tahir clinic, but assuring that a unit of microscope would be dispatched to Wanke PHC within one week.

Regarding the shortage of ITNs particularly for pregnant women, she disclosed that the distribution exercise will soon commence especially as the season for malaria is fast approaching.

Meanwhile, Mrs Abubakar also explained that, there are specific criteria for benefiting the distribution, and only those who meet the requirements will receive ITNs.