By Danhassan Abubakar
Towards checkmating the scourge of Malaria within some communities in Bauchi State, a non profit group known as Nigeria Malaria and NTDs Youth Corps (NMNTDs) under African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) in collaboration with the Bauchi State Ministry of Health has reached out to Siyi Community of Ganjuwa LGA of Bauchi State with free Malaria Drugs, Testing and Mosquito Nets as the first post launch activity by the organization in Nigeria.
The outreach activity held recently, witnessed huge success with a large turnout of inhabitants of Siyi Community especially pregnant women, under five children, male caregivers, community leaders and other members of the community.
The team was led by Rabiu Abdulwahab the Country Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and North East Regional Leader for Nigeria Malaria and NTDs Youth Corps.
As part of the outreach activity, the team carried out community engagement through advocacy, sensitization and social behavioral change and communication.
In his opening remarks Abdulwahab appreciated the support of the Bauchi State Government for creating the environment for implementing partners in health intervention. He particularly commended the Bauchi State Ministry of Health for the approval given to the NMNTDS to conduct the outreach in the Siyi Community.
During the community engagement, Abdulwahab also delivered a lecture on the importance of Malaria testing before treatment, ANC attendance by the pregnant women, youth engagement in Malaria and NTDs prevention, environmental sanitation and sleeping inside mosquito nets.
He urged Youth in Bauchi State and North East to join the NMNTDS to contribute their quota towards elimination of Malaria in their respective communities before 2030.
In his remarks to community people shortly before the commencement of the outreach services, West African Youth Advisory Council African Leaders Malaria Alliance Ambassador, Odinaka Kingsley Obeta informed the community that the group was focusing its attention on the prevention of Malaria and NTDs among communities stressing that, “when you prevent malaria, there would no need to spend money on treatment”.
Mr. Obeta also said that the group would carry out rapid tests to some of the community members targeting pregnant women and under five children, and that where it revealed Malaria parasites is detected using mRDT, drugs will be given free for those that are positive for its treatment.
He then called on the community people to imbibe the culture of using Mosquito Nets at all times in order to protect themselves from Malaria.
Also speaking, the Country Leader/Rep, Mr. Givens said that the outreach services, which was under the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), was aimed at fortifying Communities against Malaria through awareness, sensitization and provision of treated nets and other methods of mosquito trapping, using homemade method within households and the community at large.
Mr. Givens further disclosed the team’s readiness for partnerships with communities, implementing partners, corporate organisations, donors, philanthropists to work with at the grassroots level for Malaria and NTDs elimination
Part of the outreach activities was a technique presented by Amina Bashir Tajuddeen , the Co-leader North East Regional NMNTDS, to the community for home-made trapping mosquitos to further curtail the spread of malaria in their respective homes.
In a vote of thanks, the Community head of Siyi, Mohammed Usman expressed his gratitude to the NMNTDs Youth Group for selecting the community for the outreach services and assured that the community will use the knowledge gained for the intended purposes.
He also admitted that prior to the coming of NMNTDs Group, no organisation has ever reached out to his community for such intervention that is all encompassing.
Some of the beneficiaries also appreciated the effort of the Organisation and further pledged to become advocates in the prevention of Malaria and NTDs in their respective households.
Our Correspondent reports that before the trip to Siyi Community, the NMNTDs team had earlier paid advocacy visits to the Bauchi State Commissioner of Health Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam who appreciated the effort of Nigeria Malaria and NTDs Youth Corps as well as African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) for the support.
Over 300 community members that included pregnant women and under five children of Siyi village and it’s environs benefited from the distribution of Mosquito Nets, Malaria Testing and free Drugs.