Statistics Show That Malaria Kills 9 Persons Every Hour In Nigeria,
Nigeria Accounts For Nearly 110million Deaths Globally,
One Out Of 5 Deaths From Malaria Globally Occurs In Nigeria
By Monic Okechukwu Statistics have shown that Malaria kills an average of 9 persons every hour in Nigeria.
Moreover, studies have shown that One out of 5 deaths from malaria globally occurs in Nigeria, while the country also accounts for a quarter of Malaria burden in Africa.
Therefore, as part of efforts to eliminate mosquitoes and alleviate Malaria scourge, Anambra State Government, in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), and Malaria Consortium (MC) with support from GiveWell Open Philanthropic funding, is set to distribute 3.8 million Insecticide-Treated Nets to Anambra residents.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, disclosed this at a Media Orientation On Insecticide Treated Nets, ITNs, Distribution, which took place at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Health on Friday.
The Commissioner represented by the Director, Public Health and Diseases Control, Dr Afam Cyril Anaeme, informed that the 3.8 million Insecticide Treated Nets, will be distributed to households in Anambra State through door-to-door approach.
The Commissioner stressed the need for Ndi-Anambra to be informed about the distribution of the nets which, he affirmed, are free.
He further noted that Malaria is the most common preventable public health problem in Nigeria, yet it takes a lethal toll on 97 percent of Nigerians especially children under five years and pregnant women.
He added, “Two out of every 4 persons having malaria in West African sub region live in Nigeria.
“Nigeria accounts for a quarter of malaria burden in Africa”.
“An estimated 30% of child and 11% of maternal deaths each year are due to Malaria”.
“Evidence has shown that Nigeria accounts for nearly 110million clinically diagnosed cases per year”.
According to the Commissioner, “The objective of the ITN mass campaign is to ensure that for every 2 persons in Anambra state, there is one bed-net to sleep inside.
“The distribution of ITN will be done on door-to-door bases across all the 21 local government areas of the state.
“Household registration and simultaneous distribution of net will commence from 7th to 17th of August 2022, from 8:30 am to 2 pm on daily bases.
“Households must ensure that they have someone at home within this period to collect nets.
Commissioner Obidike advised that the newly collected nets MUST be spread under a SHADE for 24hrs before hanging and sleeping inside.
He added, “The mass distribution is led by the Anambra State Ministry of Health through the State Malaria Elimination Programme with Malaria Consortium providing technical support as the implementing partner.”
The Commissioner urged residents in the state to cooperate with those deployed to distribute the nets to ensure the success of the programme.
Dr Obidike also appealed to the media to help spread the message to create aware in view of the distribution of the insecticide-treated nets especially in enlightening the public on the need to sleep inside the net to reduce mosquito bite which causes malaria.
In a goodwill message, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Health and the ITN Campaign Manager for Malaria Consortium, Mrs Laitan Adeniyi, urged the people of the state, to desist from using the net for other purposes than what they were meant for.
According to her, “The essence of this media orientation is for you to help us in ensuring that people use this net and sleep under it, and not otherwise”.
Contributing, the Malaria Consortium Manager, the State Malaria Programme Manager, Nonso Ndibe, reminded residents that the net was not for fishing or vegetable farming.
He recalled that the last time the net was distributed in the state was in 2014 during Governor Willie Obiano’s Administration.
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