SuNMaP presents Score Card for 8 Years Malaria Intervention in Anambra...Donates 20 Microscopes

www.odogwublog.com reports that as the Support to National Malaria Programme, SuNMaP wind down its eight years malaria intervention programme in Anambra State, facts have emerged that over 2 million long Lasting insecticidal Nets LLIN were distributed in campaigns in  2009 and 2010 which excludes the 686, 601 million distributed in routine system in the State.
The State Technical Malaria Manager, Dr. Tonnie Okoye while presenting the score card revealed that 100 million nets had been distributed nationwide which represents 14 percent of global total using approach developed by SuNMaP while 5.7 million LLIN were distributed through replacement campaigns in three states which brings the cumulative total to 7.4 million.

This is coming as the SuNMaP presented 20 brand new Olympus Microscope to Anambra state government to support the State Malaria Microscopy quality Assurance Protocol.

SuNMaP intervention in malaria prevention and treatment came through the funding from Department for International Development, DFID.

The Anambra state Technical Malaria Manager, Dr Tonnie Okoye further lamented that the activities of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) then in 2006 disturbed the 2006 population census which caused the state a lot in policies and implementation and appealed to all agitated groups to know when to agitate and when not for public good.
He further disclosed that SuNMaP supported Anambra State to distribute 249,964 dozes of Sulphor Doxine Pyrimethamine, SP and 147, 350 LLIN in 2010 alone.

Dr Tonnie  admitted that Anambra State health indices were challenging at baseline as children under five with fever who received ACT before the SunMaP intervention in 2008 were at zero percent adding that about 89 million popunds were spent on malaria intervention between 2008 to 2015.

“Out of that amount, 12,434, 679 British Pounds were spent on Anambvra State programme alone while 8,064, 865 million poungs were spent on procurement of  AMcs. SuNMaP has supported in training of health workers,  Laboratory scientists on malaria microscopy and also supported airing of over 10, 000 spots of different radio jingles and special programmes in Anambra state.

“Our happiness is that there is reduction in malaria prevalence in the state and there is also a tremendous increase in AWC services as there were also a remarkable improved awareness of the populace on the scourge of malaria” he said.

While declaring the event open, the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke thanked the SunMaP for the intervention of eradicating the devastating effect of malaria in Anambra state.
He stated that the State government provided enabling environment for the development partners in the area of security, revealing that his administration will continue to support them.
From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Awka


Part 2

 The Support to National Malaria Programme (SUNMAP) has ended its eight years programme dissemination and intervention in the State with a workshop, attended by Governor Willie Obiano,  Permanent Secretaries, health practitioners in the State, among others , in Awka.
Anambra is one of the ten States with SUNMAP’s presence in the Country focused on reaching the poor and vulnerable with interventions to increase community awareness and demand for effective malaria treatment and prevention.
Declaring the workshop open and the activities of SUNMAP in the State closed Governor Obiano reiterated that SUNMAP’s continual presence and funding is needed in the State, especially in the midst of the economic crunch in the Nation.
Governor Obiano, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke expressed optimism that when more programmes come up, the State is willing to partner stressing that the state is safe for partners to come in.
Contributing, the Health Commissioner, Dr Joe Akabuike appreciated them and all donors that contributed to the success story so far recorded in the state health sector.
The Country Program Manager Malaria Consortium Nigeria, Mr Edward Idenu noted that Anambra stood out as the first State that implemented their program, saying that while counting on State government’s support in one of their programmes that is still running in the State, the achievements they made was as a result of the enabling environment.
Earlier, the Technical Malaria Manager, SUNMAP, Anambra State, Dr Tony Okoye, disclosed that 89 million pounds was budgeted for the ten participating States out of which fourteen percent totalling over 12 million pounds was spent in Anambra State alone.                                        
In an interview, one of the participants and the member representing Njikoka 1 Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon Timothy Ifedioranma said that the workshop was timely stressing the importance of the continued presence of SUNMAP in the State, in order to sustain the gains already achieved.
The event featured presentation of 20 malaria testing microscopes to the State Government by SUNMAP.