The Nation Newspaper

Tag: malaria

  • U.S. salutes health champions in efforts to end malaria

    Sir: On World Malaria Day, the United States is proud to recognize our partnership with Nigeria and support your fight to beat this deadly disease. We salute all Nigeria’s health champions—from health workers to mothers, pharmacists to drivers, journalists to researchers, teachers to warehouse managers—and all those working to end malaria.

    As a global community, we have achieved remarkable success. Together, we’ve cut malaria mortality by half in sub-Saharan Africa, and saved over seven million lives since 2000. In Nigeria, the United States has contributed $495 million for malaria control since PMI began in 2011, distributing more than 26 million long lasting insecticidal bed nets, 23 million malaria rapid diagnostic test kits, 52 million treatment courses, and 14 million doses of medication to prevent malaria in pregnancy. As we commemorate World Malaria Day today, April 25, we celebrate this success. As the world’s leading donor in global health, the United States is committed to working with our partners to intensify efforts to end malaria for good.

    We know fighting malaria is a smart investment to protect health, create opportunity, and foster growth and security worldwide. And we know fighting malaria together makes us more eûective and achieves greater impact than any of us could alone. Countries are best positioned to beat malaria with strong partnerships behind them. American partnership—including technical and financial commitments through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) as well as the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria—remains a cornerstone for continued global progress.

    Since 2011, PMI, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented together with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has partnered with Nigeria to support their fight against malaria. PMI’s transformative programs in Nigeria leverage and strengthen national leadership, resources, and systems to deliver lifesaving interventions more effectively and promote enduring malaria control gains. PMI walks alongside partner countries on their journey to end malaria as an evolving, but enduring partner—promoting and building their self-reliance. PMI empowers every person, every community, and every country to fight malaria as an equal, valued, and essential partner.

    This year’s World Malaria Day theme – Zero Malaria Starts with Me – recognizes this role we all play in ending malaria. So today we call on everyone – national governments, donors, communities, families, faith leaders, the private sector, and many others – to fight this deadly disease alongside us. Together we can scale proven interventions to close coverage gaps. We can share research, best practices, and data to stay ahead. We can welcome new products, players, and processes to advance our fight.

    This World Malaria Day, we are proud to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to continuing this global progress and ending malaria in Nigeria. And I extend our hand in partnership to all of those who will join us. Zero malaria starts with me, you, and everyone working together for a more prosperous and healthy future for all.

     

    • W. Stuart Symington, United States Ambassador to Nigeria

  • Uzbekistan miracle

    Malaria is undoubtedly one of the most common and deadliest public health problems in the world but, obviously, in Sub-Saharan Africa, it takes the prime position as one of the leading causes of death, especially amongst children under the age of five, and pregnant women. The parasite is usually spread by anopheles mosquitoes.

    Studies have shown that to eliminate the disease from any country might take a long time but attempts at prevention have been the focus of most concerned citizens, governments and organisations around the world. These attempts range from the scientific like the use of insecticides and insecticide-treated nets in homes to very civic actions like just keeping a clean environment to prevent the mosquitoes in question from breeding.

    However, poverty and the unwillingness of governments to truly dedicate resources to fight this deadly disease devastating the African continent have somewhat been boosting the capacity of the disease to claim lives in Africa. Nigeria, which recently turned the poverty capital of the world, is at a very high risk and with successive governments unwilling to invest in the health of the citizens, the deaths, especially of the under-fives due to malaria, would continue to rise.

    A country of 32 million people, Uzbekistan, was in December 2018 certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). This successful journey for them took years in coming. Their first attempt was about five decades ago. But they knew that for a developing nation like theirs, a healthy population is the engine room of the economy. They went to work and today, 50 years after their first attempt, a huge and remarkable result has been achieved by their being certified malaria-free.

    The success of Uzbekistan in eliminating malaria is proof that determination, focus and vision played key roles. The health ministry in the country sat down to evaluate the losses due to the disease. They had a vision of what a healthy population can achieve and they went to work, knowing that a healthy nation logically translates to a wealthy one. They set targets and they worked truly hard to achieve their goals.

    A nation like Nigeria must learn from this tiny landlocked country. They were as determined as they had goals to achieve and no challenge was huge enough to stand in their way. Dr. Anatoly Kondrashin who was one of WHO’s Malaria Elimination Certification Panel commended the government’s collaborative efforts as most ministries like that of health, education, agriculture,  transportation and even immigration and even non-governmental organisations  all worked together to achieve this marvelous result.

    There was a deliberate effort to check, conduct early diagnoses, treat with utmost care and to achieve results and prevent re-infection of others. In all these, the country had their eyes on the ball literarily.

    We congratulate Uzbekistan for this rare display of bravery and commitment to its people. We urge our governments and their ministries and agencies at all levels to learn from the tiny country which today is not popular from oil exports but for service to the people. Our ministries and agencies must begin to work together for the good of the people rather than the present supremacy battles over which ministry is superior to the other.

    It is only in genuinely working together that results as perfect as this can be achieved. Their effort is also a lesson on what value each government must place on its citizens as a precursor to serving them.

    Malaria is a devastating disease and given the huge loss of our human capital through the disease, governments at all levels must draw lessons from the tiny country under reference and begin to make efforts at eliminating the killer that is malaria.

  • Malaria!

    •Whiteman’s grave turned Blackman’s plague?  The malaria challenge needs prompt local scientific response

    The West coast of Africa was once tagged the “Whiteman’s grave”, no thanks to its buzzing mosquitoes.  The vector is the female species of Anopheles mosquito, which sucks human blood and deposits the malaria parasite in the blood stream.  Malaria has been a serial killer, even of the Blackman, since then, turning into a contemporary health plague.

    Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) just released dire figures — but hardly surprising — that 3.5 million more cases of malaria were reported in Nigeria and 10 other African countries in 2017, in comparison to the situation in 2016.  Perhaps the corresponding figure for 2018 could be worse?

    That is a possibility, at least in Nigeria, where the environmental situation is getting progressively worse — drains are getting more blocked, leading to stagnant gutters, which breed larvae for mosquitoes, the vector that spews the harmful malarial parasites.  Besides, reticulated water is scarcer by the day.  With less available potable water, even basic personal hygiene, that could boost the body’s natural immunity against diseases, is compromised.  The result is more death from malaria.

    But aside from basic environmental issues, the culture of sleeping inside mosquito-treated nets is far from being the norm, even if its use is far more widespread than before, it has not gained that vital threshold, for it to become a key preventive vanguard, against malaria.  So, health authorities, federal, state and local government, should ramp up their pro-mosquito net enlightenment blitz, to mainstream its use.

    But beyond advocacy, local researchers need to put on their thinking caps; and come up with better tropics-compliant mosquito-treated nets.  This is because a popular complaint militating against their use is the nets’ tendency to generate heat, which leads to discomfort, particularly during the hot season.

    Still worldwide, malaria is not all woe.  WHO brings cheery news that in 2017, there were no new reported local transmissions in China and El Salvador.  In these two far-flung regions (the one in Asia, the other in the Americas), malaria had long reigned supreme.  That speaks of novel and productive local malaria-handling strategies, which Nigeria and much of Africa could learn from.

    Besides, WHO has certified Paraguay malaria-free, the first country in the Americas to attain that feat in 45 years.  Three other countries, Algeria (Africa), Argentina (South America) and Uzbekistan (Asia) are seeking WHO malaria-free endorsement to crown their malaria control efforts.  Even India, which carries four per cent of global malaria burden, recorded a 24 per cent reduction in malaria in 2017.  That means almost one in every four Indians, hitherto burdened by malaria, is now free of the infection.

    The question is: what are these countries doing right and Nigeria, with other endemic African countries, doing wrong?  Perhaps basic seriousness in tackling a major health epidemic.  Again, health authorities should raise their response time, while municipal authorities see to a better and healthier environment.

    But there is also the incidence of malaria-resistant drugs, which would appear rather common place these days.  This is where Nigerian local scientists could come to the rescue via genetic engineering.  Genetic engineering could defang local mosquitoes, and make them less potent vectors of the malaria parasite.  That should be a worthwhile local scientific intervention, if Nigeria were to win the race against malaria.

  • Eight deadliest diseases in Nigeria

    We have gotten accustomed to statements like “the end time is near, nations will be against nations, all manner of sicknesses will plague the land and more”. Coincidentally, as a nation, we have had to battle with critical and life threatening diseases that has stolen the limelight of other lesser diseases that are also killer beings.

    In the year 2015, we had the case of Ebola that placed the fear on the foreheads of Nigerians and other West African countries. It surely wasn’t easy to contain such disease but it was reduced yet it is raising its ugly head in moments of opportunities.

    In the year 2016, we had the case of Lassa fever that seemed to make Nigerians pick the option of keeping their environment neat than allowing rodents visit their foodstuffs.

    The truth still remains that there are several lesser known diseases yet to come to limelight that are wiping lives on daily basis.

    1. Malaria

    Malaria is a major health problem mostly in Africa where thirty countries in Sub-Saharan Africa account for 90% of global malaria deaths. It is also important to note that Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, and Uganda account for nearly 50% of the global malaria deaths. It is estimated that up to 100 million cases of malaria resulting in over 300,000 deaths in Nigeria every year. 97% of Nigeria’s population are exposed to the risk of having malaria and the remaining 3% live on the malaria free highlands in Nigeria.

    Sadly, the “ordinary Malaria you know is the ultimate killer of all times with millions of deaths in its portfolio”. This mosquito transmitted disease causes symptoms that generally start off as a general feeling of un-wellness (malaise) and later progressing to fever and headache, which in severe cases can end up with coma or death.

    Although, research has proven that the proponent of this slow poison is dirty environment and stagnant waters in gutters and drainages.

    To curb the cases of malaria, there are different seminars to educate the masses on the symptoms, prevention and causes measures, issuing of free mosquito nets and proper adherence to sanitation days.

    2. Perinatal Conditions

    As happy as the outcome of childbirth is, some people come out with health challenges while some are free from the health challenges

    Perinatal conditions are events occurring around the time of childbirth. There is no doubt that childbirth can be a very magical moment mostly cherished between young parents and a newborn.

    However, out of over half a million pregnancy-related deaths worldwide, it may interest you to know that there are over 40,000 of those occurring in Nigeria and some sources including official data from National Population Commission (NPC) have suggested that over 140 people die every day from pregnancy-related conditions in Nigeria alone making Nigeria the second country with the highest maternal mortality rate (after India) and the highest in Africa. This is a substantial proportion when viewed from a global standpoint. It has been established that 70 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in Nigeria are as a result of 4 conditions: haemorrhage, sepsis, eclampsia and complications of abortion and can easily be prevented.

    3.Cerebrovascular Disease/Accident (Stroke)

    Cerebrovascular disease may sound more technical. It is still the same as stroke which occurs when there is a loss of blood supply to a part of the brain which could either result from blockage or rupture of a blood vessel commonly known as Ischaemic or Haemorrhagic stroke respectively.

    If blood flow is interrupted, for longer than a few minutes, the brain cells begin to suffer from irreparable damage which could result in permanent damage.

    4. Diarrhoeal Diseases

    Diarrhoeal disease is a very common cause of death most especially in third world countries while it is the second most common cause of deaths in children less than 1-year-old worldwide. According to the latest WHO data deaths caused by diarrhoeal diseases in Nigeria reached 173,878 or 10.19% of total deaths and the age adjusted Death Rate is 101.48 per 100,000 of the population. This data ranks Nigeria as the 19th country in the world.
    Deadliest Diseases

    5. Respiratory Tract Infection/Pneumonia

    Respiratory tract infection including pneumonia constituted the second leading cause of death in Nigeria. There are two major types of lower respiratory infections: bronchitis and pneumonia. Some of the easily recognizable symptoms of these infections include a runny nose and sneezing, headache, and sore throat. Symptoms may include fever in more severe cases like pneumonia. In most developing countries, these diseases can easily be lethal unlike in developed nations.

    6. Measles

    Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease affecting up to 90% of people sharing a living space with an infected person. Across the globe, measles kills 22 people every hour or about 197,000 people every year; remaining a leading cause of death among children most especially the under fives.

    Despite the availability of vaccine, the spread of measles is fuelled by poverty, lack of access to medicine and lack of education though there has been a drastic fall in the cases of measles by up to 74% within the last 15 years, the disease stills claims thousands of lives.

    7. Tuberculosis (TB)

    The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one-third of the world’s 7 billion population is currently infected with TB and that someone in the world is getting newly infected with TB every second that passes more of which happens again in Sub-Saharan Africa.
    However, the good news is that being infected does not mean that the disease is going to manifest as the individual to an obvious state like other debilitating illness or condition that suppress the immunity like HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and some other chronic (long-standing diseases) like poorly managed diabetes. The bitter truth is that TB is next to HIV/AIDS when it comes to number of deaths caused. Back in 2012, there were around 1.3 million TB-related deaths worldwide most of which occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia and other developing countries.

    8. HIV/AIDS

    HIV/AIDS was first reported in the 1980s and the fact remains that since then, AIDS has caused over 30 million deaths. This is more than the population of Gabon, Botswana, Gambia, Qatar, Jamaica, New Zealand, Ireland, Norway and Denmark put together. Though its mortality rate has reduced because of education and anti-viral medications used to combat it, it still kills millions of people year on year.

    According to UNAIDS, In 2012, there were 35.3 million people living with HIV and since the start of the epidemic, around 75 million [63 million–89 million] have become infected with HIV. In 2012, 1.6 million people died from AIDS-related causes worldwide; over 1 million deaths occur in Africa on a yearly bases and Nigeria recorded 239,700 deaths in the same year. This is far more than every single Ebola outbreak in history added together.

    In as much as the media doesn’t equalize the treatment given to all ailments in communicating its effect and symptoms, there are other lesser diseases that surely kill faster.” The smaller, the mightier”.

    To this end, it is advisable to always go for checkups every 3 month, likewise reporting oneself to the hospital in cases of confusing symptoms as well as sick moments.

  • Malaria: Deadly but preventable

    It’s a fact that drainage systems that are habitat for mosquitoes to thrive have been attributed as one of the reasons malaria is not abating. Michael Adroit explores various causes of malaria among adults and children, symptoms and prevention.

    Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease that is endemic in many regions of the world. It is a very common and rampant infection which kills a large number of people every year in Nigeria and globally, most especially children. According to UNICEF reports, ninety-one countries currently experience ongoing malaria transmission. Among all communicable diseases, malaria is the third largest killer of children between the ages of one month and five years, following pneumonia and diarrhoea.

    Malaria is an infection common basically in local areas due to dirty environment.

    In an interview, Dr Favour Odutu Adodo said: “Pregnancy test, malaria test and typhoid test are the tests people run a lot. There are different types of malaria parasites but one of them is most common in Africa and in Nigeria and that is Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria is being prevented by the use of insecticides or mosquito nets. Mosquito bites are the cause of malaria infection. A number of 15-30 people get diagnosed of malaria monthly here at my lab.”

    Dr Owoeye Johnson of Detoy Health Care Centre, Isheri-Oshun, said, “Malaria is the commonest, popular and prevalent disease not just in Nigeria, but in Africa and this malaria parasite is caused by female anopheles mosquitoes. The major cause of this rampant infection is poor drainage systems and that is why malaria is very common in Lagos State.”

    He further stated that “the way to prevent malaria infections is to get rid of mosquitoes around you by sanitising your environment, having proper refuse disposal because when the environment is clean, there will be no place for these mosquitoes to breathe. Another is sleeping under insecticide treated nets. A mosquito net can last for four years. Ensure you have good personal hygiene – eating a balanced diet, so as to keep your immune system strong to fight the infection.”

    Malaria is deadly to babies because they have weak immune system, that could be defenceless to the illness. “The prevention of malaria for babies are sleeping under the insecticide treated nets, exclusive breastfeeding for six months because breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients a baby needs to survive, even if the baby has malaria, it would not be intense,” he advised

    There are also certain symptoms of malaria because a parent has to pinpoint signs that could tell his or her child has malaria ailment because babies are unable to speak. “The symptoms of malaria on a baby are jaundice (yellowish of the eyes), loss of appetite, runny nose, and body pains. The best way to diagnose malaria is microscopic test where the blood of the patient will be placed beneath a microscope and the parasite is seen,” he added

    Sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) is the most common and most effective way to prevent malaria infection. Using mosquito repellent creams is also useful. There are also home remedies that are effective to cure malaria- ginger, lime juice, orange juice. Preventing malaria is a big step to healthy living.

  • Man Reveals How You And Your Family Can Stay Away From Frequent Medications And Remain Healthy

    Do you know why some people hardly fall sick or haven’t you seen them?

    Yes I am one of those people and if you pay attention I will reveal to you how you can stay away from all kinds of sickness ranging from malaria, typhoid, high blood pressure, diabetes, ulcer etc.

    SEE IT HERE >>> http://totalcure.info/immunueplus/

    Getting your health under control as fast as possible will be life changing, but that’s not all. It can save your life. Because what your doctor might have never told you is that the drugs you may be taking have been destroying your body for years.

    If you have any symptoms such as pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, frequent malaria, typhoid, infections, irregular heartbeat, headaches, inflammation, high blood pressure or cholesterol, low sex drive, you are at an increased risk for deadly diseases and complications.

    You simply cannot continue this way – sooner rather than later you WILL you cant tell

    Either from diseases, and its complications, or side-effects from the drugs you take. And it won’t be quietly in your sleep either. Getting rushed to the hospital while the paramedics break all of your ribs giving you CPR will be hell on earth. Spending your last moments with tubes and pumps and ventilators in unbearable agony, you will wish you did something sooner. And we know how empowering it is when you can live 10, 20, 30 years more in perfect health and vitality.

    SEE EVERYTHING HERE >>> http://totalcure.info/immunueplus/
    Keep reading because this information might not only increase your active lifespan, it might even save your life.

    Pharmaceutical companies have been suppressing this information for decades. Drug companies stand to lose billions of dollars in profits if you learn the truth about their disease and begin using these simple and much more effective techniques to stay healthy always and normalize your everyday life.

    SEE HOW HERE >>> http://totalcure.info/immunueplus/

     

    CLICK HERE TO SEE >>> http://totalcure.info/immunueplus/

  • Ogun govt battles malaria with free mosquito nets

    The distribution of mosquito nets continues across the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Council Development Areas of Ogun State following the official flag-off of the exercise at the weekend in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    In Abeokuta North East Local Council Development Area, the distribution was flagged off at Sokori Health Centre, where the Chairman of the LCDA, Hon. Taofeek Olabode, charged the beneficiaries of the mosquito nets to make proper use of it in order to kick out malaria from the state. The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Officer in the area, Dr. (Mrs.) Shola Adeoye Akinsola said that the people have been given proper orientation on the usage of the mosquito nets.

    The Technical Consultant on the project, Mrs. Wasila Kolo said the residents have been advised on the usage of the insecticidal nets, noting that the nets would come to an end on next week, urging other residents to come out and collect the net. The mosquito net replacement exercise is being facilitated by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in partnership with the Ogun State government with support from Global Fund, and the distribution of the nets exercise for the 3.3 million would last for one week.

  • Mortein partners Fed Govt, health ministries to tackle malaria

    Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Nigeria, makers of Mortein insecticide brand, has partnered with the Federal Government and some states in its bid to reduce malaria.

    It has joined forces with Lagos, Ogun and Abia ministries of health as well as the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) Abuja as part of efforts to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality rates.

    To commemorate the theme for this year’s World Malaria Day (WMD): “Ready to Beat Malaria”, RB, the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders participated in a road walk.

    RB Marketing Director, West Africa, Aliza Leferink said malaria was still prevalent going by the latest World Health Organisation (QHO) World Malaria Report released in November 2017.

    According to the report, there were 216 million cases of malaria in 2016, up from 211 million cases in 2015. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 445 000 in 2016, a similar number to the previous year of 446 000.

    An estimated 445,000 pregnant women and children aged below five die every year from malaria with Africa accounting for over 90 per cent of global malaria cases and deaths.

    “As I speak to you, millions of people are suffering from malaria all over Nigeria and every minute a child reportedly dies from malaria. According to the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBMP), Nigeria is the highest malaria-burden country, accounting for 26 percent of global malaria cases and almost a third of related deaths.

    “This puts a strain on health systems and national malaria program budgets, hence calling for sophisticated intervention adaptable in combating and eliminating malaria and malaria transmission to its barest minimum.”

    The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), Dr. Audu Bala Mohammed, said the fight against malaria was an ongoing one and is a fight to the finish.

    “We have also tackled the emergence of drug and insecticide resistance. It is our firm belief that Nigeria will join countries that have eliminated malaria in the world,” he added

    Marketing Manager, Home and Hygiene, Reckitt Benckiser, West Africa, Mrs. Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola said the Mortein brand has continuously put structures in place that will drastically reduce the intensity of malaria transmission through sustainable initiatives.

    “Mortein’s vision is to have a malaria-free Nigeria and efforts towards elimination of malaria is taken further yearly through our infomercial on the WHO 3 step integrated approach as well as several other initiatives, such as community sensitisation, free malaria tests in markets,  education and distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs)  to the most vulnerable in partnership with the state malaria program officers, which promotes good health and wellbeing while imploring all to take a stand with Mortein in the fight to beat malaria,” she said.

    Minister of Health Prof Isaac Adewole said the Federal Government through the NMEP has achieved remarkable strides in its various interventions, having trained numerous healthcare providers, distributed doses of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) drugs and delivered units of Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) kits to states.

    “A malaria-free Nigeria is possible through a stronger inter-sectorial coordination, implementation of well-known and cost-effective interventions, supported by a strong accountability framework and a strengthened primary health care system.

    “These will facilitate timely allocation of adequate resources and access to basic health services to the population, particularly the underserved population,” he said.

    The minister praised Mortein for its work and continuous support in the fight against malaria, and pledged the Federal government’s commitment to work with RB/ Mortein to ensure total eradication of malaria in the country.

    Health commissioners in Lagos, Ogun and Abia also praised Mortein for teaming up with them in the fight against malaria.

  • FG canvasses private sector support in tackling malaria

    Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has called on organised private sector to join the fight in combating malaria, stating the sector plays an integral role in eliminating the terrible disease.

    Ehanire gave the charge at the weekend in Lagos at a forum organised by Corporate Alliance on Malaria in Africa (CAMA) as part of activities to mark the world malaria day.

    He highlighted four key areas where the private sector can be influential to include innovation, policy, implementation and financing.

    According to him, 2019 would offer great opportunity for businesses to contribute to rapid acceleration of rate of progress in the global war against malaria.

    Success, he stated, will require transparency from all partners, concerted efforts to address system challenges and a continued effort in eliminating the scourge.

    Speaking on incentives for private sector involvement in funding malaria, he said: “We promised them that we are going to make use of their expertise, efficiency, management skills and their experience on distribution and giving them full partnership in the management of all programmes private sector is working with government.

    CAMA also demanded for more funding at the forum with the theme ‘Accelerating investment to bring malaria to zero’.

    Head, Sustainability Access Bank Plc, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, said substantial malaria control investments have been made in Nigeria within the last decade.

    However she said there remained considerable challenges in addressing the burden of disease and key performance indices are still below expectations.

    She said accelerating investment in malaria in Nigeria and Africa will prevent more than 80 million illnesses and more than 300,000 related deaths annually.

    According to her, ending malaria will increase school attendance, boost worker productivity and significantly lower out-of-pocket cost for treatment.

    “This is why malaria prevention and control remain a collective energy of the private sector and commitment of the global malaria community in uniting the common goal of a world free of malaria,” she stressed.

    President GBC Health, Nancy Wildfeir-Field, said funding for malaria globally is only at 41 per cent of its 2020 target of $6.5 billion yet almost half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting it.

    She said Nigeria accounts for the highest number of cases and deaths from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, pointing out the economy loses $1.1 billion each year due to malaria-related absenteeism in the workplace and treatment costs.

    Wildfeir-Field said there is strong rationale for the private sector to play a role in shaping health markets in Africa and in particular in malaria with direct impact on the workforce, stating that investment is vital.

     

     

     

  • Plateau to establish malaria vector sentinel site

    The Plateau Government said on Friday that it would soon establish a malaria vector sentinel site at the University of Jos.

    Dr Kuden Deyin, the Plateau Commissioner for Health, gave the hint to the newsmen in Jos.

    He described the malaria vector sentinel site as an important aspect of malaria vector control.

    According to the official, the sentinel site provides information on mosquito vector species, their distribution, density, bionomics and susceptibility/resistance to insecticides used for malaria control.

    Deyin said that the state government was also revitalizing its Drug Efficacy Testing Centre at the Barkin Ladi General Hospital to ensure that malaria drugs  administered would be efficient.

    Read Also: Plateau generated N3.09bn IGR in Q1

    According to Deyin, 28 laboratory scientists from the state’ Hospital Management Board, Plateau Specialist Hospital and its School of Health Technology have been trained on how to use the Grade C  WHO-certified microscope for  effective detection of malaria.

    The commissioner said that the state government had made available constant supply  of Artesunate injection for treatment of  severe malaria in secondary and tertiary health institutions.

    The official said that the government had also provided adequate Rapid Diagnosis Test Kits to reduce deaths associated with the disease.

    NAN