In an effort to promote and celebrate community contributions to Health in the light of the recently commemorated World Malaria day and beyond, ACOMIN advocated that government at all levels increase their budgetary allocations to malaria in particular and health in general.
ACOMIN, a Civil Society in fighting and control the scourge of Malaria, Immunization and Nutrition in Adamawa State, and its member Community-based Organisations (CBOs) are working in 8 Local Government areas within the State namely, Yola North, Girei, Song, Mubi South, Mayo Belwa, Ganye, Maiha and Numan in fighting malaria.
ACOMIN official, Lauretta Charles in a media briefing in Yola stressed on the global fund Malaria community -led monitoring project, and called for more government participation, funding and appealed to stakeholders in the state to stand up for the fight against malaria.
She is elated to say that community investments in health have noticeably improved since the introduction of the Community-led Monitoring (CLM) project being implemented by ACOMIN, with support from the Global Fund (GF).
She recalled how the 2022 World malaria day (WMD) was celebrated with a theme; “advance equity, build resilience, end malaria” while the slogan is “every effort counts”.
"In advancing equity, given that health is a fundamental human right, the civil society sees the need and is working towards increasing equity as it pertains to health, particularly access to malaria services as well as service delivery." Charles said
She worried that more funding is very much needed being the fact that Malaria is one of Nigeria’s most important public health concerns because of the illness and death it causes to millions of people.
According to her Malaria is transmitted all over Nigeria, Since 2019 the country has recorded the highest number of global malaria cases (27% of global malaria cases) and accounted for the highest number of deaths (23% of global malaria deaths).
"In rural populations, prevalence is 2.4 times that in urban populations (31% vs. 13%). Pregnant women and children under the age of 5 are the most vulnerable groups to malaria. Pregnant women infected with malaria usually have more severe symptoms and outcomes, with higher rates of miscarriage, intrauterine demise, premature delivery, low-birth-weight in new-born babies and neonatal death. They are also at a higher risk for severe anaemia and maternal death. Compared to the highest socioeconomic group, prevalence among children in the lowest socioeconomic group is seven times higher (38% vs. 6%).
"Every person irrespective of their socio-economic class, gender, ethnicity, demography and location should have equal rights and unrestricted access to malaria and other healthcare services. The civil society also encourages building resilience of the community health systems – which can be achieved by promoting community ownership and investment in health systems. When strong health systems are in place, it is almost certain that efforts put in to fight malaria will be effective, trackable and sustainable, especially at the community level." Lauretta said
She Further said that CBOs implementing the project were equipped with knowledge, skills and resources needed to empower community members to take ownership and invest in their own health. As a result, several successes are consistently being recorded.
Charles revealed many Successes were achieved in the area of Mass increase in awareness of free Global Fund Malaria commodities and services in implementing Local Government and the state at large.
Also community ownership of the project and other health intervention in facilities were increased with the Integration of District Heads and other traditional title holders into project awareness programs were all parts of the success stories.
In order to contribute to the promotion and sustenance of these gains, ACOMIN is calling on stakeholders, the mass media to educate the general public on the need to imbibe malaria prevention practices as a lifestyle.
"Advocate for the involvement and contribution of communities, philanthropists and the private sector in malaria interventions. And advocate for CLM to be adapted into other sectors outside health and for other donors to invest into this." She called
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