Insecurity Worsens Access To Malaria Treatment In Katsina

Insecurity has been identified as one of the major challenges hindering the treatment of malaria in Katsina State, as it is now difficult to access troubled communities to administer medication and reduce the prevalence of the disease.

This was revealed at the meeting of the Global Fund (GF) malaria community ledmonitoring project, implemented by the national coordinator of the Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) in eight local government areas of the state.

The state coordinator, Sola Babadiya, explained that they have carried out several malaria interventions through the provision of free Long-Lasting Insecticide-treated Nets (LLINs), deployment of volunteers to carry out interpersonal communication at the grassroots and the provision of free malaria test kits as well as medicines in hard-toreach areas.

He said despite the efforts there is increased difficulty in accessing hard-to-reach communities due to insecurity ravaging many parts of the country and drug resistance to the malaria parasite.

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) have embarked on a 'no pay no work ' rule over the federal government’s refusal to pay them eight months’ withheld salaries.

The union said it would not mark the scripts of the ongoing examinations in the school and would also withhold the results of the final year students because its members cannot work with an empty stomach.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday after peaceful protest within the university’s premises, ASUU chairperson, Dr Abubakar Mshelia Saidu, urged the federal government to immediately pay its members their withheld eight months’ salaries for the students to conclude the pending session.

Some of the ASUU members during the protest held placards with inscriptions, "We will not mark exams scripts of students,” “No promotion to next level until ASUU members' withheld salaries are paid".

The

UNIMAID

ASUU chairman said, " Unfortunately and disappointingly, the federal government paid university lecturers half of their October, 2022 salaries.”

ASUU, University of Maiduguri branch called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the unacceptable withholding of the salaries of the university lecturers, which is against the labour laws.

"Mr President should therefore direct the full payment of the eight months withheld salaries of ASUU members without any further delay to avoid another breakdown of industrial peace and harmony in the universities.

"We urged Mr President to reciprocate the good spirit of ASUU and maintain the excellent efforts of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila that also aid the suspension of the strike.

"ASUU, University of Maiduguri branch has resolved to abide by whatever decision to be taken by NEC and national body of the union anytime soon, if the eight months withheld salaries of lecturers are not paid and the demands of the union are also not met in line with the principles of collective bargaining," he said.