The Enugu Government State has tasked stakeholders and partners on aggressive dissemination of the state free malaria testing and treatment campaign messages.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, gave the task on Monday in Enugu while addressing stakeholders and partners during a meeting of the state Malaria Technical Working Group (TWG).

Ugwu said that the need to totally eliminate malaria had been brought to the front burner even at the state executive council.

According to him, this is the level of seriousness the state attach to total malaria elimination.

He said, “I task you to bring out brilliant ideas on how we ensure the state’s total malaria elimination through the ongoing campaign on free malaria testing and treatment.

“The state government want the campaign on free malaria testing and treatment to go viral and be a household slogan and general knowledge of all.

“Everybody living in the state must know and practice entering the nearby Primary Healthcare Centres close to them for free testing and if the person is positive, treatment will commence.”

Corroborating, Prof. Eddy Ndibuagu, a Professor of Community Medicine in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, said there was a need to use community-based organisations and faith-based organisations to push the message.

Ndibuagu noted that for the message needed to get down and the people own it and further carry out the advocacy.

Speaking, the Director of Public Health, Dr Uchenna Okenwa, said that eliminating malaria would be very effective through free malaria testing and treatment.

Okenwa noted that there is a need to deal with mosquito larvae within the environment by keeping a clean and healthy environment.

The State Coordinator of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Adaeze Ugwu, commended the stakeholders and partners for providing time and resources to brainstorm and come out with actionable plans to eliminate malaria.

“WHO will continue give its support and ensure all necessary assistance is given,” Ugwu said.

In a message, Mr Ozioma Nwobodo, State Coordinator of Johns Hopkins University Affiliate (Jhipiego), said that the organisation was committed to provide professional partnership to Enugu State.

Nwobodo noted that Jhipiego would scale down its support especially on message spread and behavioural change of all pregnant women and their families in the state.

The Programme Manager of Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Ifeoma Otiji, said that the meeting was meant to take stock of the challenges, gaps and areas covered so far.

Otiji noted that the fight against the menace of malaria and its elimination needed concerted stakeholders planning and action coordination.

She noted that stakeholders must streamline activities and broaden spectrum of approach using the free malaria testing and treatment campaign.