World Malaria Day: Ex Nat’l Malaria Control Coordinator Urges Govts. To Scale Up Preventive Measures
Former National Coordinator, Malaria Control Program, Dr Chioma Amajoh, wants government at all levels to deploy the use of the R21 matrix M, and RTSS Malaria vaccines in routine immunizations targeting children under five, and distribute dual-active ingredient nets in areas with high insecticide resistant mosquitoes to reduce transmission of Malaria.
Dr Amajoh stated this in an interview on the occasion of this year’s World Malaria Day with the theme: “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite.”
To strengthen malaria control efforts, The Malariologist urged the Federal Government to scale up proven preventive measures, Expand mass drug administration programs to target entire population in high burden states, and continue Laval source management to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
Dr Amajoh listed some of the factors hampering elimination of malaria in Nigeria to include: low community awareness, poor surveillance, gaps in malaria data collection, resistance to insecticides and drugs which reduce the success of malaria control strategy.
She cautioned People against self meditations, adding that poor treatment of Malaria could result in health complications including cerebral malaria, organ failure and even death.
Contributing, The immediate past Director of Health Planning Research and Statistics,, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Gbolahan Abass said the state Government would soon commence free distribution of Five million insecticide treated nets as part of its malaria control efforts.
