Malaria cases more in rural than urban areas —Expert

Despite the large population of mosquitoes in many urban centres, vector surveillance in Oyo State show more cases of malaria occur in rural areas than in the urban centres.

Deputy Director, Public Health, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Taiwo Ladipo, made this disclosure at stakeholders’ meeting by Breakthrough Action, a five-year USAID-supported programme.

It is to promote social and behavioural changes to sustain gains made in malaria and family planning in the state.

Dr Ladipo stated that research has shown that a reduction in the incidence of malaria in urban settlements in comparison to rural ones where the anopheles mosquito that breeds much easier.

He stated that “mosquitoes seen in dirty gutters are culex mosquitoes, which do not transmit so much of malaria. Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria breeds in clean water.”

Dr Ladipo, who remarked that environmental control of mosquitoes is required in rural areas to reduce the incidence of malaria, stated the need for testing of all fevers to be sure that it is malaria.

According to him, testing with the rapid diagnostic kit to detect malaria will cut down on drug wastage as well as prevent the wrong diagnosis.

He stated that some suspected malaria cases turn out as pneumonia.

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“So, testing gives a very good idea of what is truly wrong with the patients and not just to waste the patients’ lives,” he added.

State coordinator, Breaththrough Action Nigeria, Mrs Toyin Afachung, stated that the social mobilisation project intends to reduce the incidence of malaria by creating awareness about how people can prevent themselves from getting malaria bout as well as generate demand for family planning services.

Afachung added: “This is to ensure that stakeholders know about the project, their roles and the need for us to work together for its sustainability so that eventually Oyo State government can eventually take it over.”

Project coordinator, Breakthrough Action-Nigeria, Mr Anthony Edozieuno, stated that the programming will also ensure better health-seeking behaviour of people in the state as well as a better-behaved health workforce in the selected local governments in Oyo State.

Earlier, Director of Public Health, Dr Wole Lawal, stated that attitudinal change would help in the sustenance of gains made so far in malaria and FP programmes in the state.

He declared Oyo State government commitment to partnerships that would contribute positively to healthcare service delivery in the state.