Staff of Chevron, Development Africa, Delta state government representatives and some representatives of Warri North council and others during the NNPC/Chevron Roll Back Malaria programme held at Koko, yesterday.

By Tejiri Ebikeme

As part of efforts to kick out malaria from Africa, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture, in collaboration with Development Africa Malaria Elimination Programme (DAMEP) and the Delta State Government on Tuesday distributed three thousand mosquito nets to residents of Koko community in Warri North council area of Delta State.

The programme also include free medical diagnostic for malaria and free treatment of malaria for all indigenes in Koko.

Speaking at the NNPC/Chevron roll back malaria programme, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron, Mr. Deji Haastrup said the aim of the programme was to check the incident of malaria in the environment with the aim of eradicating it.

Haastrup who was represented by Mr.  Emmanuel Emeribe, noted that Nigeria has a high malaria prevalence rate, adding that in addition to the enormous toll malaria takes on public health, it is also very expensive to cure.

He said, “The NNPC/Chevron JV believes that malaria is preventable, it can be treated and it can be eradicated. This is why we are sponsoring this Role Back Malaria programme.”

Haastrup added that the programme also involved training of selected health workers, providing Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs), and Anti-Malaria drugs to people in their communities who were currently suffering from the disease.

Haastrup urged those who will participate in the programme to be committed so that the objective of the programme will be met and they would have collectively checked the menace of malaria in the communities where they operate.

“Today’s event is a celebration of partnership with the state government, partnership with Development Africa, partnership with communities close to our operations and partnership with other stakeholders to improve the quality of life,” Haastrup added.

He however, noted that for sustainable development to be achieved the cooperation of people in the areas where they operate was crucial and an environment of peace must exist.

Haarstrup therefore, urged the leadership and the people living in their area of operation to continue to sustain the spirit of friendship and good neighborliness and to resolve all disagreement through dialogue with respect for the rule of law.

The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge commended NNPC/Chevron for the programmed even as he appealed to them to key into the Community Health Insurance Scheme of the state government.

Represented by Dr. Francis Onojeta, Dr. Azinge said pledged the continued support of the state government, commending NNPC/Chevron JV for not only treating malaria, but for also carrying out test on people before they are treated.

He said, “I am very glad that this programme involves testing and treating. You don’t have to treat alone. You must carry out a test first to ascertain what you are treating so that you do not just inject chemicals into peoples body which they do not need.

“Delta state is the first state that has passed the contributory health insurance scheme. I want Chevron to key into this scheme in collaboration with the communities. In that case, the treatment of malaria and other ailments will be more sustainable.”

He urged the people of Koko to take advantage of the programme and come out enmass to support it.

Earlier, the chairman of Warri North Local government council, Hon. Francis Maku Eyituoyor commended NNPC/Chevron JV for selecting the council area as a beneficiary of the programme put together to Foster sustainable development in various sectors of health care.

The council boss also assured NNPC/Chevron JV of the peoples preparedness to cooperate with the initiative for the success of the programme.

He said, “My good people of Warri North Local government area, I wish to at this juncture enjoin you to cooperate with those who have come to execute this programme during the training section and implementation. This will promote our health tremendously.”

Also speaking, the Country Director, Development Africa, Mr. Joshua Kempener said the aim of the programme was to completely eradicate malaria from African.

He said, “As an NGO who do not only want to roll back malaria, we also want to eliminate it. So we want to work with the community, the local government and the state to make sure that we create an impact in the community. We will be moving to all the communities in the riverine area to ensure implementation and distribution of mosquito treated nets. Our team will, in the next two to three months, be monitoring the use of mosquito nets in these communities.”