Every April 25th is observed as World Malaria Day. A day set aside to highlight the burden of this disease to the world. Malaria affects millions of people in the world but has been hard to eradicate.
The theme for this year’s world malaria day is “Time to Deliver Zero Malaria, invest, innovate, Implement.
World Malaria Day is an international observance commemorated every year on April 25th and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria.
Speaking with the Acting Programme Manager Malaria elimination programme Abia State, Mrs Eke Chinwe stated that malaria is a life threatening disease transmitted through the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito.
She however advised people not to allow bushes around their residents or stagnate water because mosquitoes breed in such environments.
Mrs Chinwe Eke
Mrs Chinwe stated that it is important to highlight the need for malaria prevention and control and to give opportunity to government, private sectors and individuals to raise awareness on malaria and the danger it poses on people. She mentioned some ways to prevent malaria to include, “my keeping the environment clean always from activities that will allow mosquitoes to breed and sleep under treated mosquito nets etc”.
Mrs Chinwe, advised people to go for a blood test whenever they are sick to ensure they have malaria before treatment, emphasizing that every fever and body ache is not malaria.
“Pregnant women are not left out, they should seek doctors advice to avoid their kids being affected”.
She therefore called on the government to invest in malaria programmes, support sensitisation through the media and provide mosquito nets for the populace to achieve a malaria free society.
“Government can collaborate with private sectors and relevant health partners to carry more sensitization for prevention, dictation and proper treatment of malaria”.
Research has shown that in 2012, malaria caused an estimated 627,000 deaths, mostly among African children. To this end, it is advisable that the society should adhere to professional advice to protect and guard against malaria.
