THE Abia State Government has concluded a four-day training of medical doctors and healthcare givers as part of efforts to tackle malaria scourge in the state.

Termed “Doctors Training of Trainees,” the training was part of a programme by the World Bank, in collaboration with the state government to train others at the local government levels who in turn will train healthcare givers at the 292 wards 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 the Malaria Impact Project.

Explaining the essence of the training on Thursday, the Project Director/State Team Lead of PanAfricare, Dr Okey Madukwe, said, “The essence of the training is training the doctors on malaria case management and prevention, while the trainees will in turn train healthcare providers at the ward health facilities in the 292 wards in Abia.

“We are intervening in the malaria control and prevention towards achieving malaria elimination. The project is a World Bank-assisted programme in collaboration with the Abia State Government through its Ministry of Health.

“These trainees will train healthcare workers at the ward levels to empower them with the necessary skills to manage malaria cases at the ward levels, particularly among under-five children and pregnant women.

He disclosed that the state government is partnering with the World Bank and has already paid its counterpart funds for that, revealing further that the trainees will be provided with drugs, diagnostic equipment and insecticide-treated mosquito nets for the people at the relevant ward communities.

Also speaking, Dr Ihuoma Uzoanya of the National Malaria Elimination Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health said, “The objective of the training is to ensure that these trainees are aware of the clinical guide and regimen for the management of malaria.

“It involves test and treat procedure on parasitological testing procedures and proper treatment of malaria.”

The Project Coordinator, Malaria Impact, Abia State, Mr Arua Obasi, said, “The training and the programme intend to reach Abians, especially the vulnerable with malaria treatment, control and management.

“We hope to prevent the occurrence of malaria and in any case, a proper treatment will be given the the concerned.”

The Country Director, PanAfricare, Dr Patrick Adah, and the Director of Malaria Programme, Abia, Dr Rosemary Ajah attended the training.