ASABA/Nigeria: Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Mr Chiedu Ebie has advocated more partnership between the public and private sectors with a view to providing more social services to the citizenry.
The SSG made this call at the flag-off of the ‘Test and Treat Malaria Charity Outreach Program’ sponsored by the WABIO Foundation at his office in Asaba.
Ebie said that testing for malaria before treating will bring about the right diagnosis of the treatment of malaria.
“We must encourage it, especially those of us who are fortunate enough to be enlightened, exposed and educated to continue to tell our people to follow the right path which is to carry out test before treatment for malaria,” he stated.
Mr Ebie commended the donor partners for their support, even as he assured that the partnership would be strengthened.
“Collaborative efforts like this from the private sector is what we need and we will continue to encourage people to embrace it and we will continue to run along with it,” he added.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye, noted that the initiative of the WABIO, NESH and Ibru Foundations was a step to show that people were thinking on how to assist government.
He said that the government alone could not provide all the health care initiatives needed to bring every resident of the state ‘to a place where we can say our mantra Health for all Deltans’ has been achieved.’
The founder, Women and Beautiful In and Out (WABIO) Foundation, Mrs Ebele Enemchukwu, noted that the initiative was in line with efforts aimed to achieve zero malaria by the year 2030.
She said that the distribution of the test and treatment kits was a way of reaching those who ordinarily would not be able to afford testing and treatment.
The founder, Nigerian and Entrepreneurship Summit and Honours (NESH), Mr Emeka Ugorji, stated that NESH was in collaboration with WABIO and they use their network to reach entrepreneurs and other private sectors to key into this drive in the elimination of malaria by the year 2030.
The Chairman of the Ibru Organization, Chief Oscar Ibru, who was represented by Honourable Kenneth Ibru, said that the Ibru Foundation would continue to contribute its quota in ensuring that the treatment of malaria was sustained through the provision of test and treatment kits for the screening and treatment of malaria.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon David Alabi, who was represented by Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo said ALGON would continue to provide the enabling environment for WABIO, NESH and the Ibru Organisation to archive their goal of eradicating the scourge of malaria by the year 2030.
