File: Mosquito, causes and distributes malaria

The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) Dr Audu Muhammad, has called for collaborative effort among Nigerians on malaria control, care and prevention in Nigeria.

Muhammad, who made the call at a press briefing on Monday in Abuja said no one should die from malaria as the disease was treatable and preventable.

He also said that the country had made modest efforts so far in the fight against the disease, but was yet to achieve the desired success.

He added that achieving the desired goal would require consistent national focus on malaria control.

Muhammad said the theme for this year is ”End malaria for good” meant that everyone was expected to protect himself and his family from malaria.

Muhammad, while commending the federal government efforts in the fight against malaria, noted that malaria prevalence has declined from 42 per cent in 2010 to 27 per cent in 2015.

”As part of effort in fighting malaria, 13million long lasting insecticidal nets have been distributed to six states of the country.

Mrs Itohowo Uko, the Head of Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation, NMEP, said eliminating malaria required prompt approach “and everybody must play a part even at the household level.”

Uko said the World Malaria Day, which would be marked on April 25, gave the programme a platform to showcase and educate the public on the dangers associated with the disease.

She added that “the essence of the World Malaria Day is to create awareness on the dangers of the disease and the importance of accessing available interventions”.

Uko added that if the disease was eradicated, money spent for drugs and hospital services would be channeled into something else.

She, therefore, urged Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid stagnant water and keep their environment clean at all times.

Also speaking, Dr Godwin Ntadom, Head, Case Management Branch, National Malaria Elimination Programme, noted that not all fevers where symptoms of malaria

“”Malaria is one of the so many conditions that will lead to fever in an individual

““So you need to run a test; every individual presenting with symptoms of malaria or fever must be tested before you give them anti-malaria drugs when they test positive,’’ Ntadom said.

He stressed that drugs such as Chloroquine, Halfan and Fansider were no longer recommended for the treatment of malaria due to their ineffectiveness.

(NAN)