Malaria still public health problem — Ebonyi govt

Ebonyi State government, yesterday said malaria disease was still a public health problem in the state and described malaria as major cause of mobility in pregnancy, women and children less than 5 years.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma disclosed this in Abakaliki, during press briefing to mark this year’s world malaria day.

According to him, over 69% hospital attendance was caused by the disease.

He said “According to World Health Organization, mosquito transmitted diseases kill over 1 million people in a year and causes 3 to 5 hundred million out of cases per year.

“In Nigeria, Ebonyi state in particular the disease is still a public health problem, over 69 percent of hospital attendance is caused by Malaria and the major cause of mobility in pregnancy, women and children of less than 5 years.

“World Malaria day is an annual event, the theme for this year is “accelerating the fight against Malaria for more equitable world”. The celebration offers an opportunity for Malaria endemic and Malaria free country to a town and length about the devastating consequences if the disease and for new donors to join the global partnership against Malaria.

“It is also a chance for a Malaria affected region to increase awareness on the Malaria diseases and hence win more political will and support from government towards the disease.

“Objective of the celebration is actually to increase awareness on Malaria diseases and to encourage the use of proven major to control Malaria.

“It’s also to catalyse government towards increase political will and support to roll back malaria interventions, and that the Ebonyi state government is doing perfectly well.

“To also to increase the involvement and demand of malaria commodities an services and to awaken more partners to rise up to the fight against Malaria and hence increase investment in Malaria control efforts.

“The government of Ebonyi state under the leadership of Governor Francis Nwifuru done a lot in the area of healthcare provision for Ebonyians and control of Malaria in particular, training of new recruited doctors, nurses and pharmacist to build their capacities on Malaria peace management

“The state have also distributed insecticide treated net to pregnant women attending antenatal and immunization in the health facilities across the state.

“And there is also provision of free MRDT of suspected Malaria cases in the state, government have also provided free anti- malaria drugs to facilities .

“All these effort of government and many more have resulted to be more effective and efficient state Malaria program and gradual reduction of malaria from 56.5percent confirmed cases in 2023 tp 50.7 percent as at the end of first quarter of this year,” he stated.

Moses expressed gratitude to various developmental partners, including WHO, USAID, and the AMURT foundation, for their support in the fight against malaria. He stressed the importance of sustained efforts to further reduce malaria cases.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Programs Manager for the State Malaria Elimination Programme, John Chukwuemeka Nkwuda, reiterated on the theme, “accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world,” along with the slogan, “Let’s change the narrative now!”

He stressed the urgency of changing behavioral patterns, especially in malaria treatment, to achieve the goal of eradicating malaria to zero percent in Ebonyi State.

“There is no better time than now to change our behavioral patterns, especially in the treatment of malaria. Sometimes, we need to change the way we do things to ensure that malaria is eradicated to zero per cent in Ebonyi State,” he stated.

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