Bauchi State Government says it will distribute 4.4 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) worth N7.2 million to residents across the 20 local government areas of the state.
Dr Samaila Dahuwa, the state Commissioner for Health, disclosed this while inaugurating members of the State Working Committee on the ITNs Distribution exercise, on Friday in Bauchi.
Dahuwa, represented by Aliyu Babayo, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the ITNs were procured with support of the Global Health Supply Chain, a U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).
He listed the terms of reference of the committee to include, coordinating the workstreams, logistics, demand creation, technical and harmonisation into a state plan.
“The Insecticide Treated Nets Campaign Coordination Network (ICCN) committee inaugurated today is to ensure proper coordination of the distribution exercise of the 4.4million ITNs to be conducted in the next three months.
“The committee is also expected to track performance, timely delivery and distribution of ITNs at the LGAs and ward levels and ensure training of all personnel in workstreams.
“Others are to resolve identified bottlenecks, conduct state-level advocacy, facilitate review exercise and lessons learn to send to national and supervise implementation.
“Also, the committee will assess budget implementation, tracking expenses and resource mobilisation,” he said.
While reiterating commitment to reduce the burden of malaria, Dahuwa said the state government has been implementing other interventions to curb malaria such as Vector control and seasonal malaria chemotherapy for the Under-5 children.
He commended the U.S. PMI for the gesture and pledged to sustain a cordial working environment for development partners in the state.
In his remarks, Mr Dinda James, Technical Assistance and Team Lead of the U.S. PMI, said the project was providing support to the state in the areas of health commodities and capacity development for drugs revolving funds.
James said the state government was expected to contribute operational funding to the ITNs programme.
Also speaking, Dr Sani Mohammed, Chairman, Bauchi State Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA), said that the ITNs would be distributed to deserving households.
He said the 2022 ITNs distribution exercise was the fourth of its kind and targeted more beneficiaries in the state.
For his part, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, advocated for the expansion of the exercise to include inmates of custodial facilities and clients of the orphanage homes.
(NAN)
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