Bauchi Gov’t To Distribute 4 Million Insectice Treated Net

Bauchi State Government in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development Breakthrough Action Nigeria have begun arrangements for the distribution of over 4 million insecticide treated nets ITN to residents of the 20 local governments areasof the state.

The state chairman of the Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Turberclosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) Dr. Sani Muhammed Dambam stated this during the ITN campaign Micro planning and demand creation meeting held at Breakthrough Action conference hall.

Represented by the director Admin and Human Resources BACATMA Isiyaka Tijjani, the chairman said, Bauchi state government has secured a storage facility at styer company worth 5 million naira per annum for optimum security of the commodities.

He added that, the agency has commenced micro planning activities in which some selected officials will be trained and dispatched to the LGA’s to get necessary data for effective and onward distribution of the nets to the beneficiaries.

Isiyaka Tijjani added that the meeting was meant to gather inputs into the implementation of Insecticide Treated Nets distribution campaign that will ensure adequate publicity so as to achieve the desired goals.

Isiyaka Tijjani then commended the Bauchi state governor Bala Mohammed and the commissioner of health Sama’ila Dahuwa for providing all the necessary logistics.

Giving an overview of the ITN campaign process, Linda Osaji representative of the Breakthrough Action Nigeria, said that the objective of the mass distribution is to ensure that for every two persons, there is one bed net to sleep inside in which every household will collect net cards during the registration exercise.

She added that, the house to house registration exercise will take place before the distribution, declaring that only household registered will be given nets.

Also speaking, the district head of Bauchi Alhaji Nuru Adamu Jumba said, the meeting was apt and timely, considering the importance of sleeping under the net especially pregnant women and children who are under five years.

Our correspondent Zainab Muhammad Sabitu learns that the donation of the ITN was made possible through the U.S. Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) and implemented by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) Breakthrough Action Nigeria.