Multinational oil giant, Total Exploration and Production Limited (TEPNG) has called on rural dwellers in Rivers State to be proactive in the treatment of malaria.
Deputy General Manager, Community Affairs and Development, Mr. James Urho, made the call while speaking at Obite community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers State, during an anti-malaria sensitization programme organised by the company.
Urho, who was represented by by the Manager, Community Affairs, Mr. Okechukwu Obara, said sensitization programme is being done in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
He said: Today, we encourage you to embrace total change and alertness; to be proactive and take actions to treat malaria where it has been diagnosed and prevent its occurrence through use of insecticide treated bed nets and environmental cleanliness.
“We believe that this awareness is a step towards living a healthy life. To take advantage of the knowledge to be provided to live healthy and encourage other community members embrace this lifestyle change.
“We are indebted to our Joint Venture Partners, the NNPC for all the support they have provided to enable us reach out to our communities through this and various other organised programmes and projects.”
The Deputy General Manager said the company’s Roll Back Malaria Partnership To End Malaria, is aimed at raising the awareness of stakeholders on the prevention and treatment of malaria, pointing out that the ambition of the programme is to expand the use of interventions in all countries where malaria is endemic.
He said: “Roll Back Malaria is an initiative founded in October 1988 by World Health Organization, the World Bank, UNICEF and UNDP to control malaria. The initiative supports research and development of new products and tools to promote an effective control strategy to combat the diseases.
“It emphasizes rapid clinical case detection and treatment, use of insecticide-treated bed nets, management of malaria during pregnancy. It is the ambition of Roll Back Malaria Partnership To End Malaria to expand the use of these interventions in all countries where malaria is endemic especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 90% of malaria deaths occur.
