By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI—The United States Presidential Malaria Initiative yesterday pledged to contribute its quota towards the fight against malaria in the area of advocacy, community mobilization and education in Ebonyi State.

Senior Malaria Adviser of the Initiative, Dr. Jessica Kabuka made the call during a courtesy call on Governor Umahi at the Government House, Abakaliki.

She noted that the initiative has been supporting the state  in the fight against malaria with the latest being the procurement and distribution of mosquito insecticide treated nets.

She said the initiative will support the state in the next 25 years.

“We are here this time around to identify the areas where the state needs  support. The first phase of support is the fund from the U.S Presidential Initiative which we are going to give you and we want to hear from the state the areas you need our support.

“The U.S Presidential Malaria Initiative has been supporting Ebonyi state in the fight against   malaria. The latest support we gave the state is the procurement of insecticide mosquito treated nets which were distributed last year in mass campaign and also the bed nets we are distributing through health facilities.

“We have also been supporting the state with malaria drugs and treatments. We are also supporting the state with the drugs that prevent pregnant women from getting malaria and from affecting unborn children.

“We are supporting Ebonyi State with strengthening the health system especially with the health information management system. We are also supporting the state in the area of advocacy, community mobilization and education so that communities can use malaria interventions very often. I noticed that Ebonyi state is not benefiting from global funding”, she said.

Governor Umahi who thanked the group for the visit expressed the determination of the state government towards combating malaria in the state.