Malaria-related deaths dropped by 43 per cent in Oyo ― govt

Oyo State government has said that malaria-related deaths in the state have dropped by 43 per cent from 2012 to early 2018.

Deputy Director, Public Health, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Taiwo Ladipo made this disclosure at the 2019 World Malaria day celebration by the Ministry in collaboration with Breakthrough Action Nigeria.

He said the reduction in malaria-related deaths was as a result of a four-prong approach by Oyo State government, including the use of insecticidal mosquito nets, prompt and free malaria testing and treatment as well as malaria prophylaxis for pregnant mothers.

The expert assured that another 8 million insecticidal mosquito nets will be distributed house to house by next year.

He added, “Cumulatively by all these interventions, we are looking at a situation where we are reducing the severity as well as the prevalence of malaria in our environ.”

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Dr Ladipo stated that malaria is not a simple disease because it can kill when individuals do not seek appropriate health treatment, the disease can smother into complications that can be severe enough to take life.

State coordinator, Breaththrough Action Nigeria, Mrs Toyin Afachung, said people should overlook such complaints as feeling hot when sleeping under the net considering the consequence of developing malaria.

She assured that the body will continue to support the state government to ensure that people know about malaria and how to prevent it especially among children below 5 years and pregnant women.

Mrs Afachung said not all fevers are malaria and as such people should ensure they get tested and found positive for malaria before they assume they need antimalarial medication.