The Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) has launched a grassroots campaign tagged “Operation Zero Mosquito” to combat the scourge of malaria within the Etinan Federal Constituency.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady and Chairman, Board of Trustees of GIFA, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, aims to eliminate malaria-related threats among the youth and rural dwellers in Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking at the Etinan Council Secretariat, Lady Obareki described malaria as a “ruthless and silent destroyer” that continues to sabotage the potential of young people. Represented by the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Inemesit Uwah, the First Lady’s representative charged the participating students to rise as frontline defenders in the fight to eradicate the disease from their various communities.
Addressing three hundred students drawn from Etinan, Nsit Ibom, and Nsit Ubium Local Government Areas, Dr. Uwah noted that the state’s lush environment and heavy rainfall patterns have inadvertently created breeding havens for mosquitoes. She warned that without proactive intervention, nearly ninety-five percent of residents remain at risk of infection, leading to disrupted education and weakened productivity.
She emphasized that the campaign is in direct alignment with the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno, particularly in the areas of healthcare delivery and educational advancement. She further urged parents and community leaders to prioritize early medical diagnosis over self-medication.
Earlier in her remarks, the Team Lead of GIFA and Special Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Pastor Anne Abraham, highlighted that the “Fight Against Diseases” is one of the eight core mandates of the foundation. She expressed satisfaction that the campaign had been successfully decentralized to the grassroots.
In a health talk, Obonganwan Dora Ebong advised participants on the necessity of maintaining proper sanitation and the consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. She cautioned that not all fevers are malaria-related, stressing the importance of testing before treatment.
The event, which featured the symbolic distribution of treated nets and educational materials, was attended by the wife of the Etinan Council Chairman, Mrs. Emily Uko Umoh, the Chairman of Nsit Ibom, Honourable Otobong Aaron, and other top local government officials.
A cross-section of the students, represented by Master Daramfon Sunday Akpan, expressed gratitude to GIFA for the enlightenment and the preventive tools provided to safeguard their health.
