-As First Lady Weah Launches Major Campaign to eliminate Malaria
A major campaign to eliminate the spread of Malaria in Liberia is underway, after being formally launched on Wednesday by First Lady Clar Weah, who stressed the need to step up the fight against the disease.
“Recent statistics shows that the disease is responsible for forty-two percent of out-patient attendance and thirty-nine percent of inpatients deaths. This statistics leaves no room for complacency over the gains made, instead it challenges us to do better and bring down the threat of malaria,” said Madam M. Weah.
The First Lady said the Liberian government has embarked on a major campaign to distribute about two million insecticide mosquito nets across the country in an effort to reduce the scourge of the killer disease, malaria.
The Nationwide Massive Mosquito Nets Distribution Campaign, spearheaded by the Health Ministry in collaboration with partners, was launched on Wednesday, during the official commemoration of World Malaria Day in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.
According to an Executive Mansion press release, Ambassador Weah urged would be recipients of the mosquito nets to use them properly to ensure government achieves its overall objective.
She said the initiative, which is part of the National Malaria Strategic Plan, aims at reducing morbidity and mortality of malaria by 50-pecent by 2020. First lady Weah noted it is also in line with the health component of the government’s Pro-Poor Agenda.
“We must work on the goal of attaining a zero malaria death profile to save our population from being affected with the disease, especially children under five and pregnant women who are the most at risk,” Madam Weah asserted.
The First Lady alarmed over the fatality of malaria in Liberia and called for collective efforts to protect the Liberian population from the disease. She said, despite tremendous efforts by the Liberian government in partnership with Global Fund and the President Malaria Initiative of the US-Government, more needed to be done to nib the disease in the bot.
“Recent statistics shows that the disease is responsible for forty-two percent of out-patient attendance and thirty-nine percent of inpatients deaths. This statistics leaves no room for complacency over the gains made, instead it challenges us to do better and bring down the threat of malaria,” said Madam Weah.
The World Malaria Day commemoration ceremonies were held at the Paynesville Town Hall under the theme: “Ready to Beat Malaria” and a local slogan “Everywhere, Every night, Sleep under Mosquito Nets.”
Following the ceremonies, First Lady Weah distributed the first set of mosquito nets to a few individuals who queued up to benefit from the distribution.
For his part, the keynote speaker, Senator Peter Coleman presented a detailed explanation on the history of the disease across the world and the magnitude of havoc it has done to mankind.
He also expressed the significance and benefits including the economic dividends Liberia stands to accrue if successful in defeating malaria, and called on stakeholders to speed up efforts in defeating the disease.
Also speaking Health Minister, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah praised the efforts of health workers in helping government combat malaria as she reaffirmed government’s commitment to working with them and partners at various levels.
The celebration was also graced by US Ambassador to Liberia, Christine Elder, Plan International Liberia as well as other UN and Donor Agencies.