As part of efforts at promoting action against malaria in the State of Osun, the First Lady of the State, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, has been decorated as the Net Ambassador by the Society for Family Health.
The investiture confers on her the responsibility of participation, ownership and leadership of the campaign against health-related sustainable development goal.
At the official investiture ceremony, today, in Osogbo, Mrs Oyetola expressed delight in the induction, adding that whatever guarantees the safety and security of women and children in the State appealed to her passion.
Mrs Oyetola described the net program as one of the strategies of government to combat the pandemic of malaria especially as it affects women and children, adding that malaria is preventable and indeed should be prevented.
In her words, “We always welcome every support we can get towards malaria control. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets have proven to be about the most cost-effective preventive measure against mosquito control, if used correctly. Evidence showed that a community can get rid of malaria, if as much as 80% of the people sleep inside the net regularly.”
Describing the scope of the malaria campaign, the Deputy Project Director of the Society for Family Health, Mr John Ocholi, said that 3.2 million treated mosquito nets will be distributed on house-to-house basis across the State between October 8 and 21, 2020.
Ocholi stated that the campaign, which is supported by Global Funds, would be officially flagged off on October 7, and the First Lady, who is the State’s Net Ambassador, shall lead the campaign.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, appreciated the acceptance of the First Lady to lead the campaign against malaria in the State, adding that it is a possibility for the State to be rid of malaria.
He said: “It is very possible to win the battle against malaria. Cuba and Sri Lanka, for instance, have defeated malaria. Osun can equally do so, and what we are doing here today is a step in the right direction”.
Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Siji Olamiju, thanked the First Lady for her contributions to making Ifedayo local government Open Defecation-Free, adding that he was certain that the campaign against malaria would receive the same degree of intensity and improve the public health status of the State of Osun.
