The need for sustained political commitment, and continued investment in malaria control and elimination
in view of the rising prevalence rate of malaria in Nigeria has been stressed.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, , Prof. Augustine Umoh made the case in his message of commemoration of 2023 World Malaria Day in Uyo the State capital on the theme: “TIME TO DELIVER ZERO MALARIA: INVEST, INNOVATE, IMPLEMENT,’’ with the Slogan “ACT NOW.”
This theme highlights the need for urgent action and further investment to ensure investments made to date deliver maximum impact in the fight to end malaria.
The Commissioner stated that this year commemoration, the global health community have to come together to highlight progress and call on countries and partners around the world to:
Invest in malaria programmes, delivering bold investments in malaria control and elimination to bridge critical funding gaps and accelerate progress.
Innovate to deliver transformative and improved solutions to end
malaria that are tailored to those who need them most, Implement national strategies to accelerate progress against this
age-old disease by demonstrating leadership, adopting innovative and sustainable approaches, while scaling up national malaria programmes to deliver lifesaving interventions to those at the highest risk.
Prof Umoh who was of the opinion that Malaria is endemic in Nigeria and remains the leading cause of childhood and maternal morbidity and mortality as well as poverty, low productivity, and reduced school attendance, is a preventable and treatable disease
yet continues to have a devastating impact on the health and livelihood of people around the world.
It is a life-threatening disease caused by plasmodium species which are transmitted through the bite of infected female anopheles mosquito and the most common cause of health facility attendance of all age groups in all parts of Nigeria, with Akwa Ibom State not left out. Malaria takes its greatest toll on pregnant women and children under age five.
According to him, the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health supported by its malaria stakeholders has adopted evidence-based malaria interventions in all the public health facilities in the state, namely:
(a) Microscopy and Rapid Diagnostic Test (mRDT) Kits for
parasitological diagnosis of Malaria
(b). Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) drugs for the
treatment of uncomplicated Malaria
(c). Injectable Artesunate for management of severe malaria. And
recently,
(d). Mass distribution of over 3.3 million Insecticide Treated Nets
(ITNs) to almost every household in the state.
Against this background, the Commissioner said that the State Government under Gov Udom Emmanuel have been working assiduously to stermed the malaria scourge through remodeling, renovation, construction and equipping of health facilities as well as recruitment and training of qualified health care providers.
While commending the governor for prioritizing health of the peoples, Prof Umoh appreciated commitment of health care workers and malaria partners who, in the face of other emerging diseases of global importance, have shown tremendous efforts in the fight against Malaria; and therefore called on Akwa Ibom people and Nigerians to work towards malaria free society.