Malaria remains the number one cause of deaths in Nigeria, ahead of the most dreaded diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), stroke, coronary heart disease and diabetes. According to available statistics, children under five years and pregnant women are reported to be the most vulnerable to death from malaria, accounting for 85 per cent of all malaria deaths across the world.
It is in view of this that Reckitt Benckiser through its Mortein insecticide partnered with theOgun State Government and Lagos State Government, on Thursday, April 25, to launch a number of initiatives aimed at bringing down the current malaria prevalence in Nigeria and entire African continent. The initiatives included a road show on major streets and market storm at the popular Kuto Market in Abeokuta, Mortein Mothers’ Pledge, donation of products to babies born on World Malaria Day (WMD) and commemorative events in Lagos and Abeokuta.
Present at the various events were top government functionaries led by the state Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka; General Manager for Central (West & East) Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Ashok Bashin; Mortein anti-malaria campaign Spokesperson, Omawumi Megbele; the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olufemi Olugbile who represented the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and other stakeholders in the heath sector.
Mr. Bashin said the vision of Reckitt Benckiser was to see a world where people were healthier and live better. “Our purpose is to make a difference by giving people innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes”, he declared while noting that the Mortein ‘Voices against Malaria’ Campaign was launched in 2012 was a strategic fit for the brand.'
In Lagos, five new moms also received gifts from representatives of Mortein. They include, Mrs. Kayode Oluwatosin who delivered at the Ifako -Ijaiye General Hospital; Mrs. Bunmi Ogunbanwo, Gbagada General Hospital and Mrs. Uju Ezekwere, Ajeromi-Ifelodun General Hospital, Ajegunle. The rest were Mrs. Lateefat Lawal, Island Maternity and Mrs. Abiola Yusuf, Randle General Hospital, Surulere. Other nursing mothers at the hospitals also received gifts while they commended Reckitt Benckiser for the kind gesture.
Other activities included a stakeholder engagement where lectures and presentations on how to prevent malaria attack were made. The session which was tagged “One Fight, One Enemy: Mothers Pledge Against Malaria”, was off the back of this year’s World Malaria Day theme ‘‘Invest in the future: Defeat Malaria.’’
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