By Uzairu Dauda:
The Bauchi State Government has commended the Briskilla Emefese Women Foundation (BEWOF) for its innovative efforts and sustained commitment to supporting the state’s fight against malaria.
The Director of Malaria Control at the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of Tuberculosis, Leprosy, HIV/AIDS and Malaria (BACATMA), Alhaji Muhammad Isah Bello, gave the commendation while receiving a delegation from the foundation during an advocacy visit to the agency.
Bello assured the foundation of the agency’s full support in addressing malaria-related challenges identified at the community level.
He said issues beyond the capacity of community members would receive maximum attention through collaboration with BEWOF to strengthen malaria prevention and treatment services across the state.
He explained that the occasional shortage of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits in some health facilities was partly due to poor commodity management by some health workers.
To address the challenge, he said the agency had introduced a more robust monthly distribution system to ensure a steady supply of malaria commodities.
The malaria control director also urged health workers to remain committed to delivering quality healthcare services, stressing that their dedication is critical to achieving a malaria-free Bauchi State.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of BEWOF, Mrs. Briskilla Okapo Emefese, said the advocacy visit was aimed at drawing the government’s attention to the shortage of malaria testing kits and antimalarial drugs for adults, children and pregnant women in health facilities across seven local government areas where the foundation is implementing its projects.
She explained that the findings emerged from Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) activities conducted under the National TB/HIV Reach Impact Project (N-THRIP).
According to her, BEWOF, in collaboration with key stakeholders, monitored healthcare facilities across the state to assess the availability and quality of malaria services.
Mrs. Emefese expressed optimism that the engagement with BACATMA would lead to prompt intervention in addressing commodity shortages and ultimately improve malaria service delivery across Bauchi State.
Presenting the monitoring findings, BEWOF Programme Officer, Mr. Simon Reuben, identified several health facilities experiencing shortages of malaria commodities.
These include a shortage of malaria treatment drugs at General Hospital, Tafawa Balewa, and inadequate Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits at General Hospital, Giade, Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) Makarahuta, PHCC Gida Dubu and Yelwa Domiciliary PHCC, largely due to increased malaria cases.
He also noted that Ni’ima Clinic, a private health facility, reported inadequate access to malaria commodities and limited support services, underscoring the need for greater inclusion of private healthcare providers in malaria control interventions.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both BACATMA and BEWOF to strengthening collaboration in ensuring the availability of essential malaria commodities and improving access to quality malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment services for residents of Bauchi State.
