World Malaria Day: Osun Govt To Introduce Rapid Diagnosis Test Kits
As the State of Osun joined the rest of the world in the celebration of the World Malaria Day, the state government has revealed that part of the steps taken by the state government was the introduction of Rapid Diagnosis Test Kits, so that patients could get tested and treatment commenced immediately if the diagnosis showed positive signs of malaria.
The Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Health, Dr. Akinyinka Esho disclosed that during the year 2017 edition of World Malaria Day, themed, “End Malaria For Good”, hosted by the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin in Ejigbo town, the headquarters of Ejigbo Local Government Council Area of the State Of Osun on Tuesday, April 25, 2017.
Dr. Esho hinted that part of the 2017 World Malaria Day programme of activities was the awareness activities; distribution of insecticides treated mosquito nets, about 2.9 million of which would be distributed to every household in the state by year ending; the training of health practitioners and equipping of hospitals and health centres with the Rapid Diagnosis Test Kits.
“We will make sure that awareness programmes will be undertaken before we commence the distribution of these insecticides treated mosquito nets for proper usage”, he added.
Giving a statistics of reported cases of malaria for 2016, Dr. Esho noted that out of 90 per cent of patients who complained of malaria symptoms, 85 per cent of such cases were confirmed to be malaria.
Esho stressed that the use of the kits was an attempt at managing malaria properly and easily, saying, the kits would be made available at every primary health centres across the state.
Oba Omowonuola assured that he will put all resources within his reach together to enlighten his subjects on how to effectively fight against the rampage of the malaria scourge.
He charged medical practitioners to as a matter of urgency investigate the real cause of, multiplication process and solution to ending malaria in the society.
Oba Omowonuola who expressed delight that the programme was held in his domain revealed that Ejigbo town had an abundant of private medical facilities amongst which were Baptist Hospital, Ejigbo and a Comprehensive Health Centre which had been converted to a State Hospital.
The royal father also made case for the conversion of the state hospital in Ejigbo town to a teaching hospital since it was located very close to the Ejigbo Campus of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN).
The Permanent Secretary, Osun State Hospital Management Board, Engr. Segun Aduroja maintained that malaria was a disease that causes both affliction and a high rate of fatality amongst the people, a reason which he alluded prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to seek ways to put a permanent end to it.
He lauded the Ogiyan for seeing the need to eradicate malaria as a duty and commended him for hosting this year’s edition of the programme.
In his words, “The desire of the Ogiyan to host the programme shows that he has the love of the people at heart”.
