Nigeria decclares war on malaria

Nigeria decclares war on malaria

Malaria is one of the highest killer diseases in Africa, especially in Sub Saharan Africa, due to many environmental and sanitary conditions like improper disposal of refuse and other waste, and inadequate access to proper medication by many households and inability of many families to have access to bed nets.

The World Health Organizations says that 90% of the deaths by malaria are in sub Saharan Africa, where estimates indicate that one child dies in every 30 seconds are a result of this disease.

The World Health Organizations puts the number of people annually infected by malaria at 300 million. However, the Kenyan Medical Research Institute says there are actually about 515 million cases a year, recorded from this deadliest disease.

On a whole, it is approximated that over 40% of the people of the world, live in areas at risk of malaria, mostly in Africa and especially in Africa south of the Sahara.

The disease, it is said, is spread from the bite of mosquito. When the mosquito bites an infected person, it ingests the malaria parasite found in that person’s blood. After a week or two, the mosquito can spread the parasite to other people.

Due to the menace caused by this deadly disease, actions are beginning to be taken at various levels. At a global level, lots and lots of resources, ranging from manpower, equipments and monetary, are being mobilized to contend the disease.

Goal number six of the MDG is to address the problem cause by malaria, HIV, and other diseases, thus, the world dedicates a day each year to commemorate this day, and to discuss issues that would have to do with how to combat this killer disease.

Nigeria also participated and declared what comes to be known as Roll Back malaria in which each state was encouraged to do it.

Kaduna state is the 3rd largest in population in Nigeria after Kano and Lagos respectively and therefore had high potentials of having the infection of this deadly disease.

This was why the Kaduna state government under the leadership of His Excellency, Arch. Moh’d Namadi Sambo fnia declared War on Malaria in the state which was launched on the 10th of November, 2008. Each Local government Area was directed to also wage war on malaria to be able to control the ravaging effects of malaria to our populace.

Malaria control items and equipments were procured by the state government and distributed to all the 23 Local Government Areas through health Officers of various Local Government Areas with Kaduna state Ministry Of Health in fumigation of areas most likely to be breading areas of mosquitoes.

These areas of breeding are waterways, waste and refuse disposal areas.  Public places like markets and schools are all target areas for fumigation. The fumigation will be a routing exercise to be done by both the state and the Local Government Areas .

The Honorable Commissioner of Health Dr. Yari Everton Peter disclosed this, in April this year when he represented His Excellency in commemoration of the World Malaria Day by Kaduna state. Where the public was informed that it is only through good and proper sanitation by both the government, community and opinion leaders and the people themselves, that malaria can be controlled.

Items procured and distributed to all 23 Local Government Areas  by the Kaduna state government to control malaria includes, Insecticides areas (Chemicals used to spray mosquito-breeding), Knapsacks sprayers (Spraying/fumigation equipments), Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITN) (Bed-nets used to avoid contacts with mosquitoes when asleep), Anti malarial Drugs (Used for the treatment of malarial victims)

In more effort to control the disease, the Kaduna state Government will soon distribute to all the Local Government Areas, over two million Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITN). This is estimated to provide each household with access to two mosquito nets before the end of the year 2009.