By Murtala Muhammad
The Bauchi State House of Assembly has pledged to facilitate the timely release of appropriated funds for programmes aimed at tackling malaria among women and children across the state.
The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Abubakar Sulaiman, made the commitment while leading a high-level engagement with a delegation from the Nigeria Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Youth Corps (NM-NTDs) at the Assembly complex.
The engagement was organised by the Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA), in collaboration with NM-NTDs.
The initiative is funded by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), with support from the Global Fund and the Gender Equality Fund (GEF) Project.
Alhaji Abubakar Sulaiman acknowledged that the legislature does not have direct powers over the release of appropriated funds, but assured that it would use its legislative and oversight functions to facilitate the process for the benefit of vulnerable populations.
The Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam, said pregnant women were particularly vulnerable to malaria and required stronger legislative support and partnerships to address the disease.
Represented by the Director of Public Health in the ministry, Samira Abdullahi, Dr Dambam also highlighted persistent gender barriers to healthcare access, particularly in relation to malaria and neglected tropical diseases across the state.
Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization Officer of BACATMA, Mohammed Dan’azumi, disclosed that malaria prevalence among children under five in Bauchi State stood at about 32 per cent last year but had declined to approximately 17 per cent this year.
He added that the agency would soon commence the distribution of about 4.8 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets across the state’s 20 local government areas.
Earlier, the Country Lead of NM-NTDs, Mr Given Promise said assessments conducted in Siyi and Miri communities of Ganjuwa and Bauchi Local Government Areas showed the need for greater accountability in malaria care and increased female-led advocacy for gender equality in healthcare access.
The National Gender Focal Point of NM-NTDs, Ms Grace Atinuke Felix, stressed that pregnant women and children were particularly susceptible to malaria because of their vulnerability, calling for stronger legislative support towards eliminating the disease.
A representative of the End Malaria Council, Mr Bevee Hua, noted that the withdrawal of USAID assistance from developing countries, including Nigeria, had created gaps in social and economic sectors, making local resource mobilisation increasingly important for malaria elimination efforts.
The advocacy engagement brought together policymakers, government partners, civil society organisations, youth leaders and health advocates under the Gender Equality Fund Project.