The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mortein

  • Mortein partners Fed Govt, health ministries to tackle malaria

    Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Nigeria, makers of Mortein insecticide brand, has partnered with the Federal Government and some states in its bid to reduce malaria.

    It has joined forces with Lagos, Ogun and Abia ministries of health as well as the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) Abuja as part of efforts to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality rates.

    To commemorate the theme for this year’s World Malaria Day (WMD): “Ready to Beat Malaria”, RB, the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders participated in a road walk.

    RB Marketing Director, West Africa, Aliza Leferink said malaria was still prevalent going by the latest World Health Organisation (QHO) World Malaria Report released in November 2017.

    According to the report, there were 216 million cases of malaria in 2016, up from 211 million cases in 2015. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 445 000 in 2016, a similar number to the previous year of 446 000.

    An estimated 445,000 pregnant women and children aged below five die every year from malaria with Africa accounting for over 90 per cent of global malaria cases and deaths.

    “As I speak to you, millions of people are suffering from malaria all over Nigeria and every minute a child reportedly dies from malaria. According to the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBMP), Nigeria is the highest malaria-burden country, accounting for 26 percent of global malaria cases and almost a third of related deaths.

    “This puts a strain on health systems and national malaria program budgets, hence calling for sophisticated intervention adaptable in combating and eliminating malaria and malaria transmission to its barest minimum.”

    The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), Dr. Audu Bala Mohammed, said the fight against malaria was an ongoing one and is a fight to the finish.

    “We have also tackled the emergence of drug and insecticide resistance. It is our firm belief that Nigeria will join countries that have eliminated malaria in the world,” he added

    Marketing Manager, Home and Hygiene, Reckitt Benckiser, West Africa, Mrs. Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola said the Mortein brand has continuously put structures in place that will drastically reduce the intensity of malaria transmission through sustainable initiatives.

    “Mortein’s vision is to have a malaria-free Nigeria and efforts towards elimination of malaria is taken further yearly through our infomercial on the WHO 3 step integrated approach as well as several other initiatives, such as community sensitisation, free malaria tests in markets,  education and distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs)  to the most vulnerable in partnership with the state malaria program officers, which promotes good health and wellbeing while imploring all to take a stand with Mortein in the fight to beat malaria,” she said.

    Minister of Health Prof Isaac Adewole said the Federal Government through the NMEP has achieved remarkable strides in its various interventions, having trained numerous healthcare providers, distributed doses of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) drugs and delivered units of Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) kits to states.

    “A malaria-free Nigeria is possible through a stronger inter-sectorial coordination, implementation of well-known and cost-effective interventions, supported by a strong accountability framework and a strengthened primary health care system.

    “These will facilitate timely allocation of adequate resources and access to basic health services to the population, particularly the underserved population,” he said.

    The minister praised Mortein for its work and continuous support in the fight against malaria, and pledged the Federal government’s commitment to work with RB/ Mortein to ensure total eradication of malaria in the country.

    Health commissioners in Lagos, Ogun and Abia also praised Mortein for teaming up with them in the fight against malaria.

  • Mortein, ministries join forces against malaria

    Mortein, ministries join forces against malaria

    General Manager, Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria/West Africa, makers of Mortein  insecticide, Mr. Rahul Murgai, has said community engagement is the best way to eliminate malaria.

    He said that was why his company was collaborating through its consumer engagement activities to stem the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria and Africa. He said the partnership with states and Federal Government, which has been on-going for years, also demonstrated the company’s commitment to the anti-malaria fight in Nigeria.

    He said:“At Reckitt Benckiser, our global vision is to have a world where people are healthier and live better. In achieving this, we will continue to make a difference by giving people innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes. We know that regular combined interventions of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs), Larviciding and insecticide use like Mortein is the solution to achieving a malaria-free Nigeria.  Therefore, to protect our children and ourselves from getting sick, the first thing to do is to educate ourselves about prevention.”

    “That is why going with the global theme: One Act Against Malaria” RB has joined forces with the Lagos, Ogun and Abia state governments and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) Abuja, to upscale action for the elimination of malaria in Nigeria through community engagement, continued investment and sustained efforts. We localised ours to be: theme: One Act Against Malaria,” said Murgai.

    The company’s Marketing Director, West Africa, Leferink Aliza, said:“Through the grassroots community engagement, we educate communities on the importance of hygiene, and how the simple habit of maintaining clean surroundings and drainages can significantly help to reduce malaria.

    According to Aliza, there are an estimated 100 million malaria cases with over 300,000 deaths yearly in Nigeria, mostly among children under the age of five. “Malaria is preventable and we have made it our fight to educate on how to protect the most vulnerable – pregnant women and children and their families against Malaria. This has also leveraged the Clean Healthy Naija programme which RB is leading across various platforms especially for preventable diseases’’.

    Reiterating Mortein’s commitment to eradicating malaria, Marketing Manager, Mortein, Reckitt Benckiser West Africa, Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola, said Mortein has been at the forefront of the fight against malaria in Nigeria.

    “In the past few years, Mortein has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH) and various state ministries of health to foster education on malaria prevention via TV infomercials, Education at primary healthcare centres and the Mortein Own a Community Project which has been well executed across all LGA’s in Lagos State. We intend to take this a step further by having doctors in markets to do free Malaria test and consultation in cities of high prevalence across the country.

    Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said this year’s campaign aims at drawing significant attention to the need to totally eradicate the malaria scourge in the country.

    He commended Mortein for its work and continuous support in the fight against malaria through its collaboration with the government. He therefore pledged the Federal government’s commitment to work with RB/ Mortein to ensure total eradication of malaria in the country by imploring everyone to do acts against malaria in their community.

    The Commissioners for health in Lagos, Ogun and Abia States also commended Mortein for teaming up with their respective State governments in the fight against malaria.

  • Mortein unveils anti-malaria product

    In furtherance of its commitment to provide innovative solutions to make life easier and healthier, leading anti-malaria brand, Mortein from the stables of RB Nigeria Limited re-launched Mortein Liquid Electric Device (LEDs) in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

    Speaking at the event, the Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Oguzhan Silivrili represented by the Brand Manager, Mortein, Iku Ejiroghene said the re-launch was informed by the need to provide convenient ways to stem the prevalence of malaria scourge in the country and Africa generally.

    According to him, there are estimated 300 million acute cases of malaria every year around the world, resulting in more than one million deaths while approximately 90 percent of these deaths occur in Africa, mostly in young children.

    Silivrili decried the high malaria prevalence in Nigeria as ‘‘unacceptable’’, saying ‘‘malaria is responsible for 60 percent of outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 percent of childhood deaths, 25 percent of deaths in children under one year and 11 percent of maternal deaths.’’

    “Malaria can be eliminated in Nigeria which is the reason RB Nigeria Limited is taking the lead. We have made strategic partnership with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the lead agency of the Federal Ministry of Health on the elimination of malaria and other relevant government bodies. Through these partnerships, we have reached over one Million mums by engaging, sensitizing and educating them through our Primary Health Centre programme,” Silivrili said.

  • Mortein launches variant

    A LEADING anti-malaria brand, Mortein by Reckitt Benckiser, has launched its new variant, Mortein automatic insect control system, in Lagos.

    It is made from natural extracts and can last up to four weeks with  over  2,000 bursts of sprays that ooze out at regular interval to provide continuous protection against crawling and flying insects. The product is the latest addition to the Mortein brand.

    The event was attended by  trade teams, sales agents and customers.

    The Marketing Director, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Oguzhan Silivrili represented by Head, Trade Marketing, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Emmanuel Ugwuanyi, said the development of the new product was informed by the need to stem the prevalence of malaria scourge in the country and Africa generally.

    According to him, there are estimated 300 million acute cases of malaria yearly around the world, resulting in more than one million deaths while approximately 90 percent of these deaths occur in Africa, mostly in young children.

    Silivrili decried the high malaria prevalence in Nigeria as ‘‘unacceptable’’, saying ‘‘malaria is responsible for 60 percent of outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 percent of childhood deaths, 25 percent of deaths in children under one year and 11 percent of maternal deaths.’’

    He said Reckitt Benckiser’s commitment to the elimination of malaria in the country even as he was optimistic that effective collaboration and implementation of targeted initiatives could make this achievable.

    “Malaria can be eliminated in Nigeria which is the reason Reckitt Benckiser is taking the lead. We have made strategic partnership with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the lead agency of the Federal Ministry of Health on the elimination of malaria; also, we work closely with the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and other relevant government bodies,’’ Silivrili said.

    ‘We also have the Anti-malaria education-New mum programme reaching out to over 500,000 mums, our Primary Health Centre (PHC) activations reaching over 10,000 mums and the  church/mosque activations in top five cities in Nigeria’

    “In the last few years, we have moved pan-Nigeria with our Anti-Malaria Campaign by equipping Nigerians with the right information on how to protect themselves from mosquitoes and stay healthy. Our New Mum Programmes (NMP) has reached approximately five million new moms in the hospitals since inception; we also have the mobile clinic, Health On Wheels (HOW) going door-to-door across Nigeria and open market activations in top 15 states. We have also enjoyed massive exploit across digital platforms especially through our youtube infomercial with the National Coordinator of National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, engendering almost two million impressions in Nigeria,’’ he said.

    Silivrili explained that despite the large number of people reached in Nigeria, Reckitt Benckiser is not relenting because there is need to rescue many more Nigerians from malaria scourge.

    “This is the philosophy behind the launch of the new Mortein automatic insect control system. It is the first of its kind in Nigeria, providing a convenient and preventive option against malaria without electricity,’’ he added.