The Edo state Government yesterday, flagged off the free Anti Malaria Treatment for under-5 children and free Anti-Malaria, Ante-Natal Care and delivery for pregnant women programme in the state.

The programme according to the state Commissioner of Health, Dr Wilson Imongan, would cost the state government N32million monthly.

The Governor of the state, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor who spoke at the flag-off ceremony held at the Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital Benin City, said the decision to commence the programme by the state government was to ensure that children and pregnant women, whom according to him were the vulnerable group, could enjoy the best medical care in the state.

"So through this initiative, we are going to reduce drastically, malaria attack on this vulnerable group. The treatment is purely free of charge because we want to make sure that our citizens are healthy having identified that malaria is a major killer both in the state and outside the state.

It is our desire to give adequate protection to the children because they are our future and to women in order to protect the unborn child and we are committed to this course" he stated.

Governor Osunbor further urged indigenes of the state to avail them selves to this opportunity so as to be healthy and be able to actualize "your potential in all your endeavors.

Medical experts have told us that malaria can destroy the life of a child if the mother has malaria, therefore we must protect this child and the mother by utilizing this opportunity for the interest of God and humanity" he advised.

Commissioner Imongan said arrangements had been made in all the government hospitals in the three senatorial districts of the state, to give free treatment to the under five and pregnant women, stating that more doctors and nurses have been recruited to ensure that the programme is successful.