Malaria Community: Osun ACOMIN Calls on Government for Provision of Security, Staff, Drugs at Health Facilities

Malaria Community: Osun ACOMIN Calls on Government for Provision of Security, Staff, Drugs at Health Facilities

By Abisola Ariwodola,

Towards addressing the challenges of Malaria in Nigeria through selected states engaged by Catholic Relief Services under Global Fund, the Civil Society on Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) have called on Osun government to provide security, medical drugs and staff at the Primary Health Care facilities across the state. 

This was made known on Wednesday at a media briefing for Osun state on the Global Malaria Community Led Monitoring Project being implemented in Osun, that the challenges of lack of adequate staff, medical drugs, security among others hinders the malaria services to the people of the communities.

According to the brief, the fight against malaria through the community centered initiatives, such as the community led monitoring project by ACOMIN, brings advantages to the target beneficiaries, such as increased ingenuity, flexibility tackling challenges by identifying and addressing the root cause of failed interventions and enhanced accountability among others. 

In his address, the Osun ACOMIN Chairman, Ambassador Aremu Stephen Akinyele pointed out the improvement of the malaria services to the selected eight local governments in Osun, he also commended the Community Based Organizations (CBOs) for their efforts in ensuring that malaria is nipped to the bud in the state.

He said, "Osun government agencies in partnership with ACOMIN are doing well with their support and attention to details, he added that the government still needs to do more as regards security and staff, which is hindering access to malaria treatment without facing hindrance of no health staff, no sufficient medical drugs or security to protect staff working night shift at the health facilities."

Speaking further, he appreciated communities which have supported ACOMIN with little provision of staff and security paid for by them, he also pointed out the challenges of drug resistance by the malaria parasite.

In their goodwill messages, Mrs Adeeyo Comfort, Malaria Desk officer, Primary Health Board, Dr Emmanuel Awerim from Management Science for Heath, and other Community Based Organizations CBOs leaders, applauded the ACOMIN life-saving initiatives, stressed that Osun state ACOMIN have been consistent in its roles.

Thanking "ACOMIN for recouping the Primary Health Care centers in the state, they lauded the communities involved in the public health intervention program, saying that the prevention of malaria begins with you and myself, expressed gladness that ACOMIN is winning the battle of the fight against malaria despite the challenges encountered."

Pointing out that the issue of manpower in the state health sector is affecting the services at the primary health care centers at the communities, the stakeholders calls out for help of the health centers, adding that people needs to enjoy what is being delivered to them, that if staff or security are not available at the facilities, the few drugs provided will get expired, they called on residence of the communities to make use of the commodities and facilities.

The State Program Officer, Mr David Amoto who listed the beneficiary eight local governments in Osun as Olorunda, Irepodun, Obokun, Boluwaduro, Ilesha West, Iwo, Ejigbo and Egbedore local government areas, said Osun ACOMIN through its Community Accountability Team, highlighted its success stories for the period captured as constant support for women, pregnant women and children, facilitation of renovation of some PHCs, consistent advocacy, engagement and payment of trainee nurses, clearing of bushy health centers, behavior change effect, repair of faulty health machines restock of RDT drugs at various health centers, as well as provision of basic amenities among others.