Gombe — The Federal Government spends about N 150 billion on the treatment of malaria among over 30 percent of the nation's population annually. This has triggered the decision by the Gombe State government to establish a malaria control booster project with the aim of curtailing the disease.

This was disclosed by the Gombe project manager of the scheme, Dr Magaji Adamu in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area while rounding off a mobilization tour embarked by the malaria control body to the eleven local government councils of the state. According to him, part of the giant steps taken by the state government in achieving the goal is the introduction of free drugs to pregnant women and children under the age of five, saying for the few years the programme was in place a tremendous success had been recorded. Dr. Adamu said what informed the decision of the government to come up with the campaign was to create a room for interacting with community leaders and health workers on looking into the possibilities of eradicating malaria.