By AZOMA CHIKWE
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
The program embraces best practices in the fight against Malaria globally as part of the NNPC/Chevron JV’s health intervention initiatives.
It is being executed by Health, Environment and Development Foundation (HENDEF) a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) partnering Chevron on the project and includes the donation of 6,500 Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) across 30 communities in the area.
Speaking at the program launch recently, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Engr. Femi Odumabo, represented by the Communications Manager, Mr. Temitope Idowu said the project scope includes a baseline, knowledge, attitude and belief survey; advocacy and awareness raising within the community; teaching of preventive strategies; donation of the 6,500 long lasting insecticide treated nets; training of peer health educator/health personnel; and post intervention preliminary assessment.
Dr. Olajide Idris, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, represented by Dr. (Mrs.) Omowumi Bakare, director, Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health, commended the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for their collaborative efforts at reducing the burden of Malaria in Ojo Local Government Area and Iba LCDA and support for primary healthcare service delivery in the State.
Prince Mursiq Yinka Durosinmi, Executive Chairman, Ojo Local Government, thanked the Joint Venture for responding to the request and co-sponsoring the initial phase of its Malaria Control program.
According to him, pregnant women and children under the age of 5 and residents of over 30 riverine communities would be priority target beneficiaries in the implementation of the program.
Engr. Odumabo explained that the programme was designed to encourage community members to embrace the ownership of the program, hence the training of 80 Peer Educators/Community Health Promoters and retraining of existing 40 Community Health Promoters had been undertaken last March by Chevron in conjunction with HENDEF.
