Ondo Key Into World Bank Malaria Programme, Constitutes Committee

By Ayodele Oni

The Ondo State Government has inaugurated a 15- man Committee for a world bank assisted project “Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) to curb the menace  of under five mortality rate in Ondo state due to malaria.

The World Bank programme, which started in 2020, is expected to end within the next two years.

Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka while explaining the time frame for members of the committee at its inauguration in Akure said “we have an herculean task before us, this programme started in 2020 and it is a five year project, that means we have just two years to implement the programme.

“We need to speed up the implementation, the Project Implementation unit and the steering committee are to work together as fast as possible to achieve the goal of the projec

Ajaka pointed out that the  project would impact and strengthen the health sector of the state adding  that the main objective was to reduce the under five mortality rate by 40 percent in the first phase.

“As at 2020 when  IMPACT started, the national mortality  was 132 percent.  However,  Ondo state  under five mortality rate is 65 percent per 1000 life birth.

“Reducing by 40 percent will bring us to 25 percent.  We are far better than the national figure but we are going to still do more to reduce it more.

Ajaka  explained  that the  developmental objective of the project was to improve utilization and quality of immunization and malaria services.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Folukemi Aladenola in her welcome address announced that State Steering Committee has received the formal approval of the  Governor and has made available the commitment fee of N80 Million only for Malaria project with World Bank to support the reduction of malaria prevalence in the State.

She noted that the gesture  of the government was  a  reflections  of the state government’s commitment to advancing healthcare and ensuring the health  of the people is taken care of.

She sought  for  collaboration  amongst all stakeholders, development partners, Civil Society Organizations and the general public to continue the war against Malaria so as to achieve a Malaria free Ondo State and Nigeria at large.

The  State  Malaria Programme Manager, Dr Waheed Folayan noted that IMPACT malaria  project would strengthen coordination, collaboration and strategic partnership to promote efficiency and effectiveness towards achieving at least 75 percent improvement from basis.

The committee comprises, the Hon commissioner for Health as the Chairman,  the commissioner for Finance as a co-chairman, commissioner for economic planning and Budget as member, Accountant General,  Permanent secretary Ministry of Health and heads of other agencies in the health sector and Civil society organization.