Malaria: 2.6m to receive free mosquito nets in Edo

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

No fewer than 2.6 million residents of Edo state would receive free Long Lasting Insecticidal (LLI) nets, during the upcoming National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).

The Country representative of the Catholic Relief Services of Nigeria (CRSN), Mrs. Rebecca Bassey, made this disclosure Thursday when she led a delegation of CRSN on a courtesy visit on Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Edo State Government House in Benin, to intimate him on the NEP exercise and their level of preparedness.

She disclosed that no fewer than six states across the country would benefit from millions of the Long Lasting Insecticidal nets worth N2 billion to be distributed during the exercise.

Mrs. Bassey who invited the state government to participate in the NEP exercise, appealed to the governor to attend the flag off ceremony. He also sought the state government’s assistance in the provision of warehouse to keep the LLl bed nets when they finally arrived the state.

Responding, Governor Godwin Obaseki, lauded the CRSN for the initiative, adding that the Edo State government would assist in the area of publicity, security and other logistics.

The governor who said the programme was timely, stressed that the people to be engaged in the state’s agribusiness initiative would enjoy a mosquito-free environment when the exercise fully commenced.

He stated that a committee, which would work with the CRSN team, had been set up under the leadership of the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

He disclosed that other members of the government’s committee include the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Peter Ugbodaga and the Governor’s Chief Security Officer.