Nigeria has 71% Malaria prevalence, says FCT Health Secretariat

Available Statistics shows average Malaria prevalence of 71 per cent in the country and about 66 per cent in the FCT, according to the Acting Secretary of the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Alice Odey-Chu.
Odey-Chu said this at a ceremony to mark the 2016 World Malaria Day on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the World Health Organisation designated April 25 every year to sensitise the global community about Malaria and efforts being made to eradicate the disease.
The theme for the 2016 World Malaria Day was: “End Malaria for Good,” with the slogan: “It Is possible.”
Odey-Chu said the figures highlighted the need for continued awareness and renewed commitment for the prevention of Malaria, which she described as a life-threatening disease.
She said: “Statistics in Nigeria shows average malaria prevalence of 71 per cent and in the FCT estimated at 66 per cent even though the entire disease burden is being captured, particularly those from private health facilities.
“Malaria Day is an opportune moment to take stock, think about the burden of the disease, assess the current situation and to look forward at how we can work together to overcome the disease.”
Odey-Chu noted that the disease had plagued Nigeria for long and remains a significant health issue among malaria-endemic countries, including Nigeria.
She, however, said the disease was preventable and curable with proper protection and early diagnosis, citing WHO document as revealing a dramatic decline in Malaria cases and deaths between 2000 and 2015.
She said: “Malaria deaths decline globally by 60 per cent in all age groups and by 53 per cent in children under five years of age, equating to an estimated 4.3 million malaria deaths averted.
“Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo are the two countries that recorded up to 35 per cent of malaria deaths as at 2015.”
The disease, she said, has serious impact on the most vulnerable people in society which include pregnant women and girls, children, less than five years, Internally Displaced Persons and the homeless, among others.
She said: “Pregnant women have two to three times higher risk of suffering from malaria.
“This increases their risks of miscarriages, still birth, premature births, low birth weight and anaemia during pregnancy.”
Odey-Chu noted that adequate progress was being made towards education on malaria prevention, rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment of cases with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies.
The secretary said the disease was spread by infected mosquitoes that, upon biting, transmits malaria parasites to humans.
She further noted that Africans were most at risk as an estimated 90 per cent of all malaria deaths occur on the continent.
According to her, the introduction of the monthly sanitation exercise in the FCT is aimed at tackling communicable diseases as well as Malaria.
Also speaking, the FCT Director, Public Health, Humphrey Okoronkwo, said the day was set aside to find a ways of ending Malaria.
According to Okoronkwo, Malaria is a big burden mentally, physically and psychologically, socially, economically and morally.
He underscored the need for collaborative effort to eradicate the disease.
In his contribution, the FCT Health Ambassador, Alhaji Idris Musa, urged the three tiers of government to develop a blueprint that would lead to the total eradication of Malaria.
Musa also tasked the FCT Administration to provide dumping sites in the satellite towns for refuse disposal.
He said such action would ensure a cleaner environment as well as solving many health challenges.
NAN.