The Kebbi State Government has commenced fumigation exercise towards the elimination of malaria fever across the state.
Alhaji Muhammad Nasir-Musa, Director, Environmental Health, Kebbi State Ministry of Environment, disclosed this at the launch of the exercise in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
He said the essence of the exercise was to rid the entire state of mosquitoes, thereby reducing the risks associated with malaria attacks alongside other diseases.
“The main objectives of this exercise is to kill mosquitoes at adult stage, to kill mosquito lava at the center and to kill mosquito eggs.
“Because if you kill mosquitoes at adult stage and stop there, you are not doing anything, you must kill mosquito lava at the center and destroy the eggs so that you eliminate the mosquitoes completely.
“I believe we all know the dangers of mosquitoes, it’s the source of transmitting malaria fever, dangi fever and yellow fever,” he said.
On the scope of the exercise, Nasir-Musa said, it would cover the entire Birnin Kebbi, the state capital and extended to all other parts of the state to ensure total eradication of the disease.
The director said: “We are now fumigating the whole of Birnin Kebbi, all the drainages and environs will be fumigated.
“So far, we went to Emir’s palace, Government House, Presidential Lodge, Sir Yahaya and we are still on the move, we will not stop until we are done with everywhere in the state capital.”
According to him, mosquitoes have many breeding grounds, one of such grounds is stagnant water, adding that the highest level of mosquito production and reproduction is during the rainy season.
“Therefore, this is the time we are supposed to take this exercise because there are several complains from several people concerning malaria.
“When you check our hospitals you will find out that most of the patients are suffering from malaria.
“This exercise will be extended to Argungu, Yauri and Zuru Emirates too and to ensure its total success, we are going to engage ad-hoc staff whom will be given a specialised fumigation training,” he noted.
The director advised the general public to take environmental sanitation very seriously, adding that most of the challenges emanated from insufficient and non qualitative sanitation which usually pave the way for mosquito breeding.
He appreciated His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris for the support and encouragement to the ministry to achieve its mandate.
Responding, the Chief Medical Doctors (CMD), Kalgo Medical Centre, Dr Abubakar Attairu thanked the Kebbi State Government for providing the fungicide to spray the hospital.
“This exercise is timely and it will go along way in solving health related illnesses.
“Mosquitoes are causing a lot of sickness and our organisation really appreciate the state government for this gesture and I hope it will be a routine exercise,” he pleaded.
