Chevron, NNPC Sponsor Roll Back Malaria Initiative

Abimbola Akosile

The Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigerian National Petroleum Company NNPC in collaboration with the Delta State Ministry of Health and Development Africa has executed a Roll Back Malaria programme across communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

During the exercise, hundreds of households drawn from several wards and communities in the local government area, including riverine communities, benefitted from the programme.

The key objective of the Chevron Roll Back Malaria initiative is the reduction of the malaria burden across communities. Highlights of the week long programme includes the widespread distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs), extensive awareness campaigns, training lectures for healthcare providers, community members, and secondary school students, as well as a broad malaria screening and treatment for community members.

In his keynote address, Community Engagement Coordinator, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Emmanuel Emeribe, who represented the company’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Deji Haastrup, explained that sponsoring the programme in partnership with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation was a demonstration of the company’s commitment to healthcare delivery in Nigeria,

According to him, “Today, in continuation of our support for healthcare delivery, we are here at the NNPC/Chevron Joint venture’s Roll BACK Malaria programme with Development Africa in Delta State. “Nigeria has high rate of malaria prevalence. In addition to the enormous toll that malaria takes on public health, it is also expensive to cure. Malaria is preventable, it can be treated, and it can be eradicated.

“The programme also involved training of selected healthcare workers, distribution of long lasting treated nets, and facilitating the supply of anti-malaria drugs to people across our communities who are currently suffering from the disease,” he concluded.

Warri North Local Government Council, Koko Town, Roll Back Malaria Programme Officer for Delta State, Dr Francis Onujeta applauded NNPC and Chevron for their participation in the fight against malaria and commended the implementing partner, Development Africa, for working in line with the National Plan towards malaria eradication

Also speaking, Country Director, Development Africa, Joshua Kempeneer noted that although a lot of progress has been made over the last couple of years, malaria continues to be a widespread disease causing approximately 584,000 deaths and 198 million global cases annually.
He added that the majority of malaria caused deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and emphasized the need for corporate bodies and Non Governmental Organisations across Nigeria to join hands in supporting Government efforts in reducing the malaria burden.

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