Abia State Government, ABSG and PanAfricare Consortium, Wednesday embarked on a two-day training of local government area and ward healthcare givers on malaria prevention, control and management in the state.
The training was part of a program by the World Bank, in collaboration with the Abia State Government for Trainer of Trainees, TOT to train healthcare givers at the local government and 292 wards levels in the state.
A non-state actor, PanAfricare Consortium is the facilitator of the training that is for malaria case management, control and prevention under Malaria Impact Project.
Explaining the essence of the training, the Project Director/State Team Lead of PanAfricare, Dr. Okey Madukwe said, “The essence of the training is for the TOTs to train healthcare providers at the ward LGA and ward health facilities in the 292 wards in Abia”.
According to him, the training is in two batches, with nine LGAs taking their turns on Wednesday, naming the LGAs to be Umuahia North and South, Isialangwa North, Bende, Ikwuano, Arochukwu, Isuikwuato, Umunneochi and Ohafia.
The trainers have already been trained and according to one of them, Dr. Chukwudi Ndubuisi, said the training is on the modern method of malaria treatment at the local government and ward downward levels so that the healthcare givers can “administer tests and drugs as required” and monitor the implementation of the malaria Impact Project at the ward levels.
According to another resource person, and Director, Malaria Program, Abia State, Dr. Mrs. Rosemary Ajah, the essence of the training of the Officers in Charge is to step the training down “to make coverage rate to be high”, adding that the selected trainees will train others not at the training.
Another resource person, Dr. Uka Uduma disclosed that the training also involves training Junior Chose Community Health Extension workers, who will implement the malaria control at the LGA and ward levels and on how to use ACT combined therapy where combined drugs are used, adding, “RDT (Rpid Diagnostic Test) will be conducted before malaria is treated”.
A participant, Mrs. Chisara Okoroji said, “the training was essential and well packaged because of the prevalence of the global burden , malaria”, stating that they learnt so many things about the management of malaria in pregnant women, children and adults, assuring that they will step down the training by teaching their subordinates at the different wards in the state.
The project is a World Bank Assisted program in collaboration with Abia State Government through its Ministry of Health and has already paid its counterpart funds for that, while drugs, diagnostic equipment and insecticide – treated mosquito nets will be provided for the people at the relevant ward communities.
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