From Bassey Williams, Yenagoa
The Rotary Club International of Maple Grove, Minnesota, USA, in collaboration with their counterparts of Agege Districts in Lagos State and Ughelli in Delta State, have partnered to ring succour to malaria affected persons in malaria prone areas in the Niger Delta region commencing with communities and farm settlements in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State which are the most vulnerable due to the ravaging effects of flood in the area.
Speaking on the essence of the programme tagged “Zero Malaria Initiative in Patani” the coordinator, Pastor/Chief Jennifer Borel President of Rotary Club of Maple Grove, Minnesota., said the initiative is one of the many Rotary medical and life changing interventions carried out for the benefits of mankind especially the poor and vulnerable across the globe by Rotary International.
According to Chief Jennifer Borel the Niger Delta region, Patani inclusive has high humidity levels which caused rainfalls resulting in floods which displaced many people from their homes and their farm settlements stating that the resultant effects of the flooding amongst other things is being a breeding ground for mosquitoes which caused malaria and other health challenges thereby endangering the lives of the people of the region especially in Patani Local Government area of Delta State which was one of the worst affected areas in the 2022 flood.
Speaking further, Chief Jennifer Borel said the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified that Nigeria has a burden of over 51 million persons affected by malaria with over 207,000 deaths recorded annually especially in the Niger Delta region due to the terrain of the area. She said it was these facts that necessitated Rotary International to take a cursory look into the menace of malaria in the region with particular interest in Patani which was the worst flood hit area adding that the initiative will be extended to other areas of the region in due course.
The initiative initially slated to run for twelve months was extended to seventeen months due to the flood situation in Patani which made some communities inaccessible. The programme was kick-started with the initial training of community based volunteers (CBVs) who went door-to-door in the communities for awareness creation supervised by the Patani Primary health care and fully catered for by Rotary International.
The essence of the programme was to conduct free malaria and eye tests, provisions of free malaria drugs, treat mosquito nets well and provide medicated glasses to those with defective eye-sights. At the same time, serious cases were referred to Primary health centres.
Commenting on the conduct of Zero Malaria Initiative Programme, the Patani health educator and promotion officer, Mrs. Cynthia Amiete who served as community based supervisor (CBS) in the Zero Malaria Initiative Patani, said over twenty thousand persons were tested for Rapid Diagnosis Test malaria (RDT) and those infected were treated while serious cases were referred to Primary health centres for treatment.
Borel emphasized that, over thirty-six community based volunteers (CBVs) were trained, equipped with malaria test kits and drugs, and sent to communities and farm settlements in Patani stating that within the period of seventeen months which the programme lasted, there was no record of death as a result of malaria attack from the communities and settlements.
She particularly commended Chief Jennifer Borel and Rotary International for the initiative while appealing that the programme be extended to other Local Government Areas in Delta State as well as other Niger Delta States.
According to her, the programme has created awareness of health related matters in Patani Local Government as other ailments discovered were sent to referral centres for treatment stating that the benefits of the programme are enormous and cannot be over-emphasized. She also praised the various communities and farm settlements visited for their peaceful dispositions and adherence to medical advice.
Also speaking, one of the Community Based Volunteer Trainees (CBT) Mrs. Abukoye Benalayefa on behalf of the trainees thanked Chief Jennifer Borel and Rotary International for their magnanimity stressing that the training has given them the required knowledge of this deadly malaria disease and the stipend received within the seventeen month period went along way to assisting families. She said the drugs were effective and that the communities and settlements are still yearning for more.
In his remarks, the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom, HRM Peremobowei Shadrack Erebulu, commended the Zero Malaria Initiative spearheaded by Mrs Jennifer Borel and thanked Rotary International for their collaboration to save lives in his kingdom.
According to him, the feedback he got from the initiative is impactful and very positive stressing that the beneficiaries throng his palace daily basis calling for the sustainability of the programme. The Royal Majesty added that during the flood period, Chief Jennifer Borel donated free drugs and palliatives to those who were displaced both in the creeks and farm settlements especially those who were infected with malaria.
In appreciation for the humanitarian rendered by Chief Jennifer Borel to Patani, Niger Delta, and mankind, the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom conferred on her the title of “Izonebidora of Kabowei Kingdom” (daughter of the kingdom who seeking for good and benefits of Ijaw nation).
Speaking on his administration of Kabowei Kingdom, HRM Shadrack Erebulu said Kabowei Kingdom cuts across Delta and Bayelsa States with diverse cultures, customs, and traditions, bringing people of different cultures together. However, as a traditional ruler who is the custodian of customs and culture, he had to revive the age-long annual cultural festival which acts as a unifying factor amongst the Delta and Bayelsa communities of Kabowei kingdom.
He advised traditional rulers not to dabble in politics as they are not political leaders but custodians of customs and tradition. He used this medium to thank the governments of both states for their financial support during the festival period
