The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis/Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) has pledged to curtail the incidence of malaria and reduce deaths caused by the illness by 50 per cent in the state by the year 2013.

The Chairman of the Agency, Dr. Mohammed Sambo Liman, who stated this during a stake holders interaction with journalists in Bauchi, said already significant progress has been made in the area of malaria prevention, control and treatment.

He gave the interventions as the distribution of 2.2 million long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) throughout the state to protect especially women and children from mosquito bites, the provision of 800, 000 doses of Sulfadoxine- Pyrimethamine (SP) medicines for malaria prevention among pregnant women, and distribution of over 1, 200, 000 doses of Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) for treatment of malaria in over 365 health facilities.

Dr. Liman who said the interventions were provided to the people free of charge, further revealed that indoor residual spraying to reduce the population of mosquitoes has also been conducted in Misau Local Government Area of the state.

 He said this would soon be scaled up to two additional local government areas, as malaria-plus package comprising ORS for treatment of diarrhea, albendazole (worms) and cotrimxazole for treatment of respiratory infections had been provided to further promote maternal and child health.

He said the state government had provided the right environment to donors and implementing partners to contribute to the state's response against killer diseases.

Liman, while stating that the Agency had renewed its strategies in the state's response to the diseases, said BACATMA was the first mega agency in the country to serve as model for multisectoral coordination of response to HIV/AIDS, TB, Leprosy and malaria being emulated by other states in the federation.

CREDIT:  Ahmed Mohammed

DAILY TRUST