The Zamfara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aisha Mohammed Anka, has highlighted the alarming prevalence of malaria in the state, citing data from the World Malaria Report 2022, which reveals that Nigeria accounts for over 66 million malaria cases annually.
Dr Aisha shared this information during a media briefing in Gusau on Thursday, where the focus was on the upcoming 2023 Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Nets Mass Distribution Campaign.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Zamfara State Government, the United States President’s Malaria Initiative (US-PMI), and the Against Malaria Foundation (AMF).
Representing the commissioner, Acting Permanent Secretary Dr Bashir Adamu emphasized the severity of the malaria situation, stating, “Zamfara State, in collaboration with the United States President’s Malaria Initiative (U.S. PMI) and Against Malaria Foundation (AMF), will be distributing 3.2 million Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) to every household in Zamfara State.”
He explained that malaria, transmitted by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, poses a life-threatening risk, particularly to children and pregnant women. Dr Adamu pointed out that Nigeria’s high malaria burden results in substantial child and maternal deaths, with 30% of child and 11% of maternal deaths annually attributed to the disease.
Highlighting the effectiveness of sleeping inside an insecticide-treated net as a preventive measure, he noted, “Sleeping inside an insecticide-treated net is one of the best ways to prevent malaria, serving as a physical and chemical barrier against mosquitoes.”
Referencing the Nigeria Malaria Indicator Surveys, Dr. Adamu mentioned a reduction in national malaria prevalence from 27% in 2015 to 22% in 2021. However, he underlined that Zamfara State currently faces a malaria prevalence of 37%, emphasising the need for proactive measures.
In collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the Zamfara State Government aims to mitigate the malaria burden by distributing 3,200,000 Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) to residents through its Ministry of Health.
During the media parley, an advocacy team from Breakthrough Action and other partners delivered presentations on sensitization messages for the ITN distribution campaign. Stressing the importance of registration, they announced that free nets are distributed from December 24th, 2023, to January 2nd, 2024. Each household’s representatives must collect the nets from the designated distribution points mentioned on their net cards.
Linda Osaji from Breakthrough Action Nigeria and Mr Faruk emphasized the necessity of airing the new nets for 24 hours under shade before hanging them in sleeping areas. They underscored that every family member should consistently sleep under the nets throughout the year to prevent malaria effectively.