By Danmusa Mohammed, Awele E. Esumeh & Patricia Ochayi

The Nasarawa State Government has commenced the distribution of free malaria drugs for under-aged children throughout the state.

The government’s decision to embark on the free distribution of the drugs was aimed at combating the malaria scourge in the state.

Presenting the drugs to newsmen in Lafia, the state commissioner for health, Alhaji Abubakar Sarki Dahiru, said the ministry has already mapped out strategies to ensure that the drugs got to all nooks and crannies of the state, warning that any attempt by those entrusted with the drugs to deprive the people of the gesture would not be tolerated by the government.

The drugs worth N21 million were distributed to all the health centres in the state through the local government and development areas.

According to the commissioner, the gesture was part of the governor Aliyu Akwe Doma-led administration’s commitment to turn around the fortunes of the health sector in the state.

He reiterated the state government’s resolve to fight the malaria scourge, pointing out that through the combined efforts of government and other donor agencies, the rate of prevalence of the disease in the state has reduced drastically.

Alhaji Dahiru described the free distribution of the malaria drugs as both timely and relevant in order to improve the health wellbeing of the people.

He challenged the people to take advantage of government’s good intentions by reporting to the appropriate authorities, any attempt by anyone to sell the drugs, warning that anybody found to be involved in diverting the drugs would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

A cross section of residents in the state who commented on the distribution of the free malaria drugs were unanimous in commending the government’s gesture, describing it as an unprecedented move in the fight against malaria.

They, however, called on the government to closely monitor the distribution exercise so as to achieve the desired objective of fighting the disease of malaria in the state, especially among children.

Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Government has expressed its readiness to work in conjunction with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to address the recurring cases of fake drugs administered in public hospitals.

The state health commissioner, who disclosed this at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, assured that the state government, through his ministry, would not rest on its oars in the task of providing quality health services to the people.