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| Etisalat Fight Malaria Initiative |
MALARIA HAS MET A STRONGER FORCE… TOGETHER WE WILL END MALARIA FOR GOOD IN CRS. – DR LINDA AYADE
Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Dr. Mrs. Linda Ayade’s Mediatrix Development Foundation and Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has stepped up the fight against malaria in partnership with telecommunications operator, Etisalat Nigeria to tackle malaria in primary secondary and tertiary schools through ICT as computers were also distributed to schools at University of Calabar Conference Centre, Calabar. The event featured the official signing and official flagging off of the Etisalat Fight Malaria Initiative in Cross River State as it formed part of an ongoing Pan-Nigeria crusade by the telecommunications firm against the scourge of malaria in the country.
Speaking during the official Flagged off in Calabar, Wife of the Governor, Dr Linda Ayade said she initiated the Hunt Malaria program in 2015 to fill the gap in malaria prevention and treatment and also reduce the prevalence of malaria and HIV in public schools. According to her, more than 10,000 students have benefited from distribution of treated nets and 25,000 youths and students will be trained on ICT to champion the fight against malaria in the state while noting that ICT was brought in as one of the tool to fight against malaria which Etisalat have agreed to partner with her foundation to equip schools in CRS with computers. She applauded Etisalat for their kindness while promising to sustain the initiative in CRS.
Earlier speaking, Dr Betta Edu in her welcome addressed said CRS have been working so hard to end malaria for good. We have intensify major steps to be taken as an Agency and one of such is the partnership with Her Excellency Dr Linda Ayade’s pet organization, Mediatrix Development Foundation to secure partnership with telecommunications giants Etisalat to initiate ” Etisalat Fight Malaria program in the state. She eulogized the State Governor, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade for the conducive atmosphere he has created for partners to invest in CRS without no hitch, first lady Dr Linda Ayade and all major stakeholders in health sector who have contributed to the fight malaria initiative. We are revitalizing the primary health sector by rehabilitating primary health centers under the one functional PHC per ward policy of the state Government, we have employed doctors to man the PHCs, we have stepped up the fight against infant and maternal mortality which can be cause by malaria.
Vice President Government Regulatory and corporate affairs Etisalat, Ibrahim Dikko who spoke through Head, of Government and Community relations, Mohammed Suleh-Yusuf said the partnership is part of the company’s passionate commitment to sustainable
development of youth and by such we must start by making sure their health is stable.
“One of the key focal areas of our CSR intervention programme is health, and this initiative forms a part of it. We have a target to use ICT in fighting Malaria in Nigeria because our youths need to be I.T oriented to research new technological strategies to curb the disease in the state. We expect that through these clubs, education and information on prevention of other opportunistic infections and diseases that threaten health of our youth will be achieve through the setting up of ICT centres in schools with the fight malaria clubs. We applaud the Government of CRS especially Her Excellency, Dr Linda Ayade for building this partnership with us.
Also speaking, Honorable Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Mrs Rosemary Archibong said the scourge of malaria is on the
increase due to poor sanitation practices; this
provides a breeding ground for the activities of
mosquitoes which leads to malaria. We are glad
that Etisalat is supporting this programme. we at Information and orientation sector will support the fight by disseminating information on malaria to Cross Riverians.
The chief host, Prof Zana Akpagu, Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar in his remarks said MDF have been so proactive especially in the area of malaria prevention which the foundation is taking a lead. He lauded the Etisalat partnership and describe it as service to humanity.
Mr Asu Okang, Commissioner of youth and sport expressed delight at the exercise just as he lauded the telecom firm for taking up the fight against malaria which claims millions of lives yearly especially in Sub-Saharan Africa largely due to environmental reasons. He said the Ministry was unfolding a youth multi sectoral program that will engage our youths and students on part time jobs.
Present at the event were SSG, Barr (Mrs) Tina Agbor, House Committee Chairman on Health, Hon.Dr. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey who spoke briefly on measures taken by the house to strengthen healthcare in state such as Ayadecare, primary healthcare bills now laws. Others are representatives of UNFPA led by Dr Yakubu Aliyu, Executive Director of MDF, Mr Jeffrey Adamade, Dr Iwara Iwara, State Program Manager Roll Back Malaria, Dr Steven Takim who represented the honorable Commissioner of Health and University of Calabar Students Union Government Executives, other members of exco, CRS women, commissioners wives group etc where present. The event also featured official signing of MOUs by both parties. And the presentation of laptops to wife of Governor who presented to all schools present. Event started with a courtesy call at VC office.
