World Malaria Day: Malaria testing, treatment are free across PHCs — Oyo govt

Oyo State government, on Thursday, assured free malaria testing and treatment across the state as part of its accelerated fight against malaria and boost for a free malaria state.

Oyo State Health Commissioner, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, speaking at the commemoration of 2024 World Malaria Day and mosquito net distribution in Ibadan, said malaria is a disease not to be taken for granted, and the Oyo State government has ensured that in primary health care facilities, malaria testing and treatment can be assessed by whoever needs it for free.

She said that the state administration has renovated more than 200 primary health facilities, including enough resources to screen for malaria and offer free treatment to all age groups. “When you have a fever, headache, or even loss of appetite and so on, you can go to the primary health care centre to have a test for malaria and treatment.

All PHCs offer it for free; more than 200 PHCs that have already undergone renovations now offer these services.

“Don’t overlook these signs or buy akapo; this may make it complicated and even lead to death. It’s critical to diagnose and treat malaria early.

“Malaria needs to be properly treated; malaria medicine underdose, not taking any malaria drug, or even resorting to the use of herbs can make the disease severe and life-threatening. Malaria kills.

“In children, severe malaria can lead to kidney damage; it can cause anaemia, multiple convulsions, and regression in developmental milestones. Some can become blind.

” Dr Ajetunmobi, therefore, urged increased support for the fight against malaria in the community, preventing malaria through sleeping inside insecticidal-treated mosquito nets, preventing mosquito bites, and maintaining a clean and dry environment while ensuring early and prompt treatment of malaria cases.

“Malaria prevalence in Oyo State is now about 21 percent; we hope to achieve further reduction of this and, invariably, an Oyo State with zero malaria cases.”

Representative of the World Health Organisation, Dr Philips Azonto, stated that the fight against malaria must be intensified and holistic, as well as the responsibility of everyone, including community and traditional leaders, in the community.

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According to him, the responsibility of the people in the community in the fight against malaria is the proper utilisation of malaria intervention and services by the government in its bid to put an end to malaria cases in the country.

In her remarks, State Coordinator for USAID-BAN, Mrs. Toyin Afanchang, expressed concern over the fact that people are unaware of the deadly nature of malaria and the preferable course of prevention.

However, she urged pregnant women to enrol early in antenatal care to benefit from malaria prevention during pregnancy; children to take all their routine immunisations; and individuals to avoid self-medication and always finish their course of malaria medicines.