Kogiflame
Kogi State Ministry of Health has partnered with a Non-Governmental Organization, Malaria Consortium, to create awareness on the scourge of malaria.
Twenty-fifth of April annually is World Malaria Day.
A day set aside by member states of the World Health Organization (W.H.O) during the World Health Assembly of two thousand and seven to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control.
In marking the twenty twenty-three world malaria day, the Ministry of health put together an event to remind the people of the need to prevent the deadly disease.
Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Zakari Usman said there was need for synergy among health stakeholders to bring Malaria to zero level in Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole.
He said sixty-five percent of patients seeking medical help in Nigeria and kogi state were as a result of malaria with children under five years and pregnant women mostly affected. Adding that about half of the world population are at risk of the scourge.
According to the commissioner, there were 241 million clinical cases of malaria reported in 2021 and 619 ,000 deaths (WHO African regional report) stating that 95% of all malaria cases are in Africa.
Dr Zakari noted that Nigeria is one of the twenty eightieth countries that have signed up to join scale of the malaria vaccine being piloted in Ghana and Malawi which has recorded success in reducing severe cases
He assured the people of the state government’s readiness to make mosquito nets and other malaria prevention drugs available for distribution to children below five years and pregnant women.
State Program Manager for Malaria, Dr Stephen Ake urged pregnant women to go for sulphadoxine perimetamine to protect them and the unborn child from Malaria.
He noted that children below five years and pregnant women are more vulnerable to malaria, stressing that more effort should be made towards preventing the deadly disease.
Dr Stephen described this year’s theme “Time to deliver Zero Malaria: invest ! Innovate! Implement!!!’ as apt, pointing out that the state government has promised to sustain its partnership with health bodies to fight the scourge.
There were good will messages from Representatives of World Health Organization, State Primary Health Care Development Agency as well as a road walk round the major streets of Lokoja metropolis.
