The Anambra State First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, has embarked on actions to combat malaria in the state by calling for collective efforts and responsibility to drive community actions to keep malaria away from the environment.
In a statement on Saturday as part of activities marking the 2025 World Malaria Day, Soludo noted that Nigeria is among malaria-endemic countries in Africa, which means there is still a lot more to do to accelerate actions towards ending the disease.
She called for the use of insecticide-treated nets, adding that from 2023 to date, over 3.8 million free insecticide-treated nets have been distributed to homes and public health facilities in Anambra State.
The governor’s wife noted that the theme for this year’s World Malaria Day, tagged, ‘Malaria ends with us: Reinvest, reimagine, reignite’, captures the admonitions very succinctly, adding, “The time to start action is now, every action must be urgent”.
She said, “The World Health Organisation’s official report that malaria still claims an estimated one life every minute, with most deaths occurring in the African region, should really bother anyone who understands the overall implications.
“Nigeria is among malaria-endemic countries in Africa. Yet the growing threats that come with this dangerous disease are something we can really control through collective actions and sustained efforts.
“Sleeping under insecticide treated nets is still ideal for preventing malaria. Leading the campaign as Anambra’s net ambassador, we began the distribution of these nets across all the households in the state.
And from 2023 till date, we have distributed over 3.8 million free insecticide treated nets to homes and public health facilities in Anambra State. It’s a modest effort with massive results.
“But there is still a lot more to do to accelerate actions towards ending malaria. While the government will continue to improve access to treatment and prevention of the disease, we also have a responsibility to drive community actions and promote common household habits to keep malaria away from our environments.”
The first lady also called on stakeholders, including parents, guardians, schools and religious institutions across the state for collective action on immunisation so as to increase coverage and comparative results.
“As we kick off the 2025 World Immunisation Week in Anambra State, we have set a target for increased coverage and comparatively greater results. Following the latest routine immunisation timetable in Nigeria, we want to ensure that every child within the vaccination age of zero to fifteen months who is living in Anambra State is duly covered in this important exercise.
“This exercise is a very important one. Therefore, I urge all stakeholders, including parents, guardians, schools, and religious institutions, to spread awareness and also follow up on families whose children should be vaccinated. I equally appeal to women leaders of the 179 communities and 326 political wards in Anambra State to, as a matter of responsibility, take up this task.
“The responsibility of protecting our children from vaccine-preventable diseases is non-negotiable. The lives of these children are as important as the future we are building around them. Let’s see this task as a sacred one. Thank you all, and may God bless you,” she added.
