Malaria: ACOMIN Calls on government to increase Health Budgetary Allocation ... Applauds Communities For Contributing to Health Aspects...

Accountability of Civil Societies in Malaria Control Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has called on government to increase Health Budgetary allocation, particularly in Malaria and health on general.

This is as the, non-governmental organization applauded communities in Osun for contributing to health aspects in the Primary Health Care centres in the regions.

The ACOMIN Osun state Chairman, Ambassador Aremu Stephen Akinyele made this known during briefing of Media at state level, held at SoLife Consult in Osogbo, the state capital.

According to him, the general public were also urged on the need to imbibe malaria prevention practices as a lifestyle, he added that involvement of communities, philanthropists and the private sector are needed in Malaria interventions.

While pointing out that malaria is one of Nigeria's most important public health concerns because of the illness and death it cause to millions of people, he advocated that Community led Monitoring (CLM) be adapted into other sectors outside health a d for other donors to invest into.

Responding to questions by journalists when asked of challenges faced and comparison rate of success story, Aremu pointed out that getting the communities to support the ACOMIN project wasn't easy because the community said the Primary Health Care centres are government facilities, hence the government should take full responsibility of it.

He specifically applauded the Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in the project, and he stated that the rate of tangible success story achieved by ACOMIN in this quarter is the highest so far from inception of the community based project in Osun.

In his remarks, the Roll Back Malaria Manager in the State Malaria Elimination program, Dr Olufemi Oroge appreciated ACOMIN for its consistency and for being partner in progress to the government in fighting malaria out of the state.

He emphasized that the impact of the non-governmental organization is visible, he charged the CBOs not to relent in their services, but to input more effort to eliminate malaria totally in Osun State.

Speaking further, Oroge said that as part of malaria eradication in the state, the government has mandated all health care providers such as public health facilities, private hospitals, medicine vendors and pharmacies to stop dispensing anti malaria drugs, without first testing the patient to know what is wrong with such person.

He advocated that usage of Insecticide nets should be continued by all, particularly by pregnant women and children under age five who are the most vulnerable groups to malaria, he added that Osun government will continue to provide qualitative health care to Osun people.

Listing out ACOMIN achievement in this quarter, the State Programme Officer (SPO), Mr David Amoto stated that pregnant women and children who are the most vulnerable group to malaria, are also at a higher risk for severe anaemia and maternal death.

He said the ACOMIN achievement through the CBOs intervention ranges from presentation of BP apparatus, stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, testing kits, cotton wool, gloves, bed sheets and nose masks, herbicide for weeding, resolving shortage of staff, fixing of pumping machines, provision of standard wiring for electricity, donation of exercise books, consulting chairs and tables, provision of direction signage, repair of broken bore hole water pipes and laboratory, and provision of identification tracing cards by the communities in the various ACOMIN beneficiary local governments.

Amoto highlighted the community based local governments as Olorunda, Irepodun, Obokun, Boluwaduro, Ilesa West, Iwo, Ejigbo and Egbedore. He added the feat recorded was through the intervention of the CBOs who beliefs in encouraging building resilience of the community health systems, achievable by promoting community ownership and investment in health systems in Osun.