FCTA urges residents to maximise free malaria services

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has urged residents, particularly pregnant women, to take advantage of free malaria prevention, testing and treatment services available at public health facilities as part of efforts to eliminate the disease in the territory.

The appeal was made during the Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) Core Group meeting organised by the Public Health Department of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) in Abuja.

Speaking at the meeting, the Programme Manager of the FCT Malaria Elimination Programme, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, said increased support from the FCTA under the leadership of the Mandate Secretary, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had strengthened malaria control efforts in the territory.

She said the FCT had begun recording encouraging results since the renewed malaria interventions commenced, although some challenges remained.

“Our message to residents is simple: malaria services are free. Do not assume every fever is malaria. Visit a health facility, get tested and receive appropriate treatment. Pregnant women should attend antenatal clinics where malaria prevention medicines are provided at no cost,” she said.

Ibrahim expressed concern over the low uptake of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp), despite the service being offered free of charge, urging expectant mothers to register early for antenatal care and receive the recommended preventive medication under Directly Observed Therapy.

She also identified poor documentation of IPTp administration and inadequate community mobilisation as challenges affecting the programme, noting that the large geographical spread of many communities limits the reach of mobilisers.

Also speaking, chairman of the FCT ACSM Core Group, Samuel Simon, called on residents to support government efforts by promoting accurate health information within their communities.

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