By Rabiu Abdullahi

The deputy chief of party of the COMPASS project in Nigeria, Mr. Bola Kusemiju, has decried the high prevalence rate of malaria disease in Nigeria, disclosing that the country loses the sum of N132 billion yearly to the malaria scourge.

He stated this in Doma, Nasarawa State, during the official flag-off of the distribution of free 360,000 Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) in the state.

The flag-off was performed by the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Raliyatu Aliyu Akwe Doma, recently.

Mr. Kusemiju explained that the sum of N132 billion was being lost due to costs of treatment, transportation, loss of man hours, absenteeism from school and other indirect costs."

He said COMPASS decision to distribute the ITNs was aimed at checkmating the rampant cases of malaria infection in Nigeria.

Mr. Kusemiju said anemia, pregnancy miscarriages and low birth weight of babies were some of the debilitating effects of malaria, stressing that, "pregnant women and children under five years of age are prone to malaria attack across the country."

The COMPASS official said since its inception in 2004, the project has so far distributed over 64,000 ITNs in Nasarawa State.

Mr. Kusemiju commended the Nasarawa State Government for procuring over N21 million worth of anti-malaria drugs for free distribution in the state.

He said although the COMPASS project would soon come to an end, it has left behind empowered community groups such as Community Coalitions (CCs) and Quality Improvement Teams (QITs) to continue the good work COMPASS has started.

Mr. Kusemiju urged the Nasarawa State Government to effectively use these groups to solve common problems and issues of concerns in the health and education sectors in the state.

In her speech, wife of the Nasarawa State Governor, Hajiya Raliyatu Aliyu Akwe Doma commended COMPASS for its community driven and participatory approach at solving basic problems in the health and education sectors.

Hajiya Raliyatu expressed her gratitude to COMPASS for the 360,000 ITNs distributed free to people in the state. She expressed her confidence that the ITNs would greatly reduce the scourge of malaria in the state.