The Ikeoha Foundation, a Non-Governmental and Not-for-Profit Organisation founded by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Tuesday, presented 20,000 doses of free anti-malaria drugs to the people of Enugu West Senatorial District as part of efforts to fight malaria scourge in the state.
The drugs, Artecxin Child, an Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy, ACT, for combating malaria in children valued at over N16 million were donated in partnership with the Afrique Biotech West Africa Limited.
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Presenting the drugs to the Malaria Focal Persons of the State Ministry of Health for distribution to the targeted persons in the various local government areas in Enugu West, Executive Director of Ikeoha Foundation, Mrs. Cindy Ezeugwu, said that 146 Primary Health facilities in the Senatorial Districts would be involved in dispensing the drugs under the existing Malaria Commodity Logistics System of the state.
Mrs. Ezeugwu said: “Estimates by the National Malaria Control Program indicate that malaria scourge accounts for 60 percent outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 percent childhood death, 25 percent death in children under one year and 11 percent maternal death.
“Based on these findings, and the urgent need for intervention, Ikeoha Foundation in partnership with Afrique Biotech West Africa Limited rose to the occasion by providing the anti malaria drugs worth over N16 million.”
She expressed the hope that the drugs would be effectively utilized by the benefiting health facilities in order “to join Ikeoha Foundation and Afrique Biotech to say NO to Malaria.”
According to her, the drugs are meant for children below six years advising the beneficiaries to stick to the prescription.
The traditional ruler of Amandim-Olo in Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state, Igwe Harford Agana, who was among personalities that witnessed the distribution of the drugs at the Ikeoha Foundation Headquarters in Enugu, applauded Senator Ekweremadu for his commitment to the welfare of his constituents.
He said that the senator had represented the people of Enugu West at the Senate very creditably, stressing that it was for this reason that his constituents were unanimously clamouring for his re-election in the 2015 election.
