The Kebbi State government has announced the commencement of a fumigation exercise aimed at eliminating malaria across the state.
The exceecise was announced by the Director of Environmental Health, Kebbi State Ministry of Environment, Muhammad Nasir-Musa, the lunch of the exercise on Monday in the state capital Birnin Kebbi.
The director noted that the exercise was been carried about by the government inorder to get rid of all the mosquitoes that have been cause servial illnesses in the state and reducing the the risks associated with malaria and other diseases.
He noted the main objective was to kill all the mosquitoes in their adult stage, eliminate mosquito larvae at the source, and destroy mosquito eggs. He further explained that if the mosquitoes are liked at their adult stage, it translated to doing nothing against their spread; he noted that there was a need to kill the larvae and destroy the eggs to completely eliminate mosquitoes.
He disclosed that the mosquitoes have been responsible for the transmission of malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever.
He explained that the state government would start the exercise in the state capital covering all areas while all other local government s in the state will further benefit from the fumigation exercise inorder to eradicate the spread of the diseases.
He noted that the exercise has started in the state capital, Birnin Kebbi, with the drainages and surrounding areas will be treated. He noted that the team had fumigated the Emir’s palace, Government House, Presidential Lodge, Sir Yahaya, and were ,moving to other areas in the capital with the motive of curbing the spread in all the area with no household or area left behind.
The director noted that several breading grounds have been discovered to be the areas where mosquitoes have been surviving he noted that stagnant water has been the major area. He noted that it has been known that the peak period for mosquito production and reproduction is during the rainy season.
He explained that the peak period makes it more important for the exercise to take place in the state this period explaining that several individuals in the society have presented complines about the spread of malaria in the state. He also noted that the state hospitals have been occupied mostly with residents who have been affected by the effect of Malaria which comes from mosquitoes.
The state government noted that the services of ad-hoc staff would be employed at the beginning of special training. According to him, the exercise will extend to Yauri and Zuru Emirates.
The director noted that the residents of the state were advised to take take environmental sanitation very seriously, adding that many of the challenges stem from inadequate and poor-quality sanitation, which usually paves the way for mosquito breeding.
The director also appreciated the governor of the state Nasir Idris, for the level of support he has got including series of encouragement given to the ministry to achieve its mandate.
While reacting, the Chief Medical Officer at Kalgo Medical Centre, Abubakar Attairu, appreciated the state government for providing the fungicide to spray the hospital. He noted that the execersise had come at the right time which will further address the health issues that were affecting the residents.
He explained that mosquitoes were a major cause of some of the major illnesses in state explaining that the hospital hospital appricitws the goverenmt for the step taken and urged them to carry out the fummugation on a regular basis which will help the state further.
