A Continuous Push To Reduce Malaria As The World Steps Out For WorldMalaria Day

A Continuous Push To Reduce Malaria As The World Steps
Out For World Malaria Day

With all the mosquito nets being distributed all over the world, Nigeria in consideration; malaria is still a big problem in Nigeria.

Statistics by the US show that Nigeria constantly has over 100 million malaria cases and about 300,000 deaths annually, which places on the top in terms of malaria casualties.

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, who made the remark at the occasion to commemorate World Malaria Day/World Intellectual Property Day in Abuja, attributed the high rate of death from malaria to the widespread of fake and substandard medicines.

Aside that, so many quack pharmacists are on the streets, not forgetting the diversion of the mosquito nets and drugs meant for the treatment of malaria cases.

Entwistle also says, “According to the Nigerian National Malaria Strategic Plan 2014-2020, malaria is responsible for 60 percent of outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 percent of childhood deaths, 25 percent of deaths in children under one year, and 11 percent of maternal deaths”.



The Federal Government of Nigeria has however improved on efforts to eliminate malaria in the country by 2020. This was from a statement made by the National Coordinator of National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe in an interview in Lagos.

The malaria policy adopted should be adhered to by all in order to achieve its goal in the targeted year. The policy called the TTT (Test, Treat and Track) policy was said to have been in existence for years in the country with little or no compliance.

Malaria is one illness that has been given little or no attention and it is high time the Federal Government in collaboration with private organisations like NGO's started doing something tangible to tackle the malaria menace.

#GodSaveNigeriaFromMalaria