WHO, Yobe targets 1 million children for anti-malaria therapy
By Tada JUTHA, Damaturu
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board (YPHMB) have targeted a million children for anti-malaria therapy.
The kids between three and 59 months from 17 Local Government Areas; are to be administered seasonal malaria chemoprevention drugs.
While flagging off the therapy on Wednesday in Damaturu, the state capital, the Board’s Director for Immunization and Disease Control, Dr Umar Chiroma disclosed that the anti-malaria therapy exercise was approved and supported by WHO to save a life.
According to him, administering anti-malaria therapy on children could prevent them from contracting malaria.
He noted that last year, the programme targeted over 700,000 children between three and 59 months across the state.
“In 2021; the anti-malaria therapy targeted a million children under five years in 17 local councils,” he said, noting that the burden of malaria among children could be reduced in the state.
He maintained that the anti-malaria rounds of the cycle will continue for the next four cycles, including 2022 and 2023.
