The Dangote Cement Plc at the weekend flagged off its malaria intervention programme for host communities at Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The 2024 Malaria Campaign, according to the company, is not just to commemorate World Malaria Day, but also to contribute to advancing Nigeria’s progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 of the United Nations, which harps on good health and wellbeing.
Group Head of Sustainability, Dangote Cement Plc, Dr Igazeuma Okoroba, described the relationship between the Dangote Cement and its host communities as robust.
She said that the company has observed that a significant portion of the population lacks access to vital healthcare services.
“What we are doing at Dangote Cement is to bridge this gap by addressing disparities in our host communities,” he said.
“We believe that healthy people are the foundation for healthy economies, and for this reason, countries are taking decisive actions to counteract health challenges. Our target for this campaign is Edo State.”
According to her, Dangote Cement’s response to this situation is to join the world in “accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.
“Today’s campaign in Okpella, therefore, is aimed at engaging our communities, bringing health care close to where people live, and addressing factors that increase malaria risk while also demonstrating our corporate social responsibility.”
While calling on the people to participate actively in the two-day activities, she commended the Edo state Ministry of Health and partners for their collaboration in making the programme successful.
Speaking at the flagged off ceremony, the Coordinator Sustainability Dangote Cement Plc, Okpella, Engr. Sunday Adondua, said the programme was aimed at reducing incidence of malaria to as low as possible in the company’s host communities.
Engr. Adondua, a General Manager, Training and Development, added: “If the people use what we gave them in terms of drugs and mosquito nets, we will chase malaria out of the communities.
“The essence of this programme is to make life more meaningful for the people of our host communities who are vulnerable in terms of finance and resources endowment to afford good medical establishments for treatment.
“Dangote has a robust CSR programme for host communities, we have been doing this every year. Last year we had our sustainability week and at Okpella community we established a library with 10 laptops and internet connectivity for the community. The donation would be done next week.”
Speaking, Comrade Victor Ojeifo, Director Community Health Service, in charge of Malaria Elimination Programme, Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Etsako East Local Government Area, commended Dangote Cement for the medical outreach for host communities.
“This is what we have been expecting to see when we preach to nongovernmental organizations to try to attend to the vulnerable who can’t afford to buy drugs.”
A beneficiary, Mrs. Adiza Aliu, who was treated, said the programme has given her the opportunity to attend to her health without spending money.