By joshua 
ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA
The kogi state Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello has reiterated his commitment to fighting malaria and other allied ailments as he flag off the Distribution of multi million naira malària drugs and other medical items to the 21 Local Governmemt Areas of the state.
The Governor who disclosed that his administration has given priority to the health needs of the people especially those at the rural areas adding that most his projects were meant to tackle the heath challenges of the people.
Bello who was represented at the flag off ceremony held in Lokoja on Monday by the commissioner for Local Governmemt and Chieftaincy Affairs Barrister Salami Ozigi said in line with his administration’s commitment to the wellbeing of the people, the 21 Local Governmemt Councils had earlier distributed mosquito nets to reduce the contact between mosquitoes and the people thereby improving the health status of the citizenry.
He commended the efforts of the 21 Local Governmemt Councils who pooled their resources to procure the drugs and medical consumables.
According to him, this drugs will go along way in reducing the incidence of Malaria in the rural areas especially as the raining season is about to set in.
He warned officers of the primary heath care in the Local Governmemt Areas not to sell the drugs stressing that the drugs were meant to be distributed free vowing to punish any erring officials.
” Let me make it abundantly clear that the state under my watch will not condone a situation where the drugs and other medical items we are distributing today will be diverted or sold contrary to the intended purpose.
” The only way by which to complement my efforts at improving the health status of our people at the grassroots is to ensure that these items are judiciously used.” The Governor warned.
In a remark, the Director of Local Governmemt Ankpa Local Governmemt Council Alhaji Shaibu Usman assured the government that the drugs and other medical items would be judiciously distributed to the people, saying the items would help stamp out malaria and other ancillary ailments affecting the rural dwellers.
He commended the state government for the initiative to procure the drugs adding that they are now equipped to fight the malaria menace .
In his contribution, the Ohegba of Mosun, HRH Bukar Khalid commended the state government for the project saying that malaria sickness has been the major health challenge being faced by the rural people.
The monarch who stood in for all the traditional rulers in the state said, the royal fathers are grateful to the present government who has made primary healthcare his priority.
He commended the governor for his role in fighting covid 19 without shutting down the state, assuring him of their support for his presidential ambition.