A Director in the Public Health Department (Malaria Unit) of the Kogi State Ministry of Health, Hajiah Suleiman Rafiat Ebun, has called on residents of the state to adopt preventive measures to curb the spread of malaria.
Hajiah Suleiman made the call in an interview with journalists in Lokoja, stressing that malaria transmission is largely linked to stagnant water and unclean environments which serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
She urged communities to engage in periodic clearing of stagnant water and bushes around their homes and neighborhoods, noting that environmental sanitation remains a critical step in preventing the disease.
The Director, who is also an Auditor of the Kogi State wing of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), further recommended the consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, describing them as one of the most effective preventive measures against malaria in tropical regions.
Commending the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, Hajiah Suleiman described him as a humane leader with a deep understanding of the health sector. She lauded the recent approval for the cash-back payment of promotion arrears, describing it as a morale booster for health workers in the state.
However, she appealed to the state government to give special consideration to the remuneration and welfare of health workers, who she said are often overstretched due to manpower shortages. She also called for the payment of uniform allowances and the recruitment of additional personnel to fill the gaps created by retirements.
While acknowledging the governor’s various interventions in support of religious organizations, including the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hajiah Suleiman disclosed that the association is proposing to break the upcoming Ramadan fast with the governor and his wife as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration.
