Africa Accounts For 95% Of Global Malaria Cases, Deaths
By Princess-Ekwi Ajide -Abuja
The 2021 World Malaria Report estimates that, 228 million malaria cases and over 600,000 malaria deaths which accounts for 95% of cases and deaths globally in 2020 occurred within the WHO African Region.
The Minister of state for health Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora, at a ministerial press briefing in commemoration of the world malaria day said, malaria remains a disease of major public health significance in Nigeria as it affects over 98 percent of the population and it is disproportionately responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years of age and pregnant women.
Dr. Mamora, said, in order to address the problem, government and its partners have continued to develop and initiate innovative strategies for prevention, diagnosis and treatment to ensure substantial reduction in the number of cases and deaths recorded each year due to the long standing disease in the country.
According to him, Malaria endemic in Nigeria has caused the country huge economic and man hour losses due to absenteeism from work and school owing to repeated episodes of infections, out of pocket expenses and caring for sick family members among others each year.
The Minister of State said the theme of this year’s celebration, “advance equity, build resilience, end malaria” is a global call for all endemic countries, Nigeria in particular to build systems that will ensure sustainability in malaria control efforts towards achieving the ultimate goal of elimination and eradication and as such, encourage Nigerians to take a stand and ensure that individuals no longer remain passive in the Malaria elimination drive.
Dr. Mamora said commemoration of the World Malaria Day provides the platform for the mobilization of Nigerians both in the public and private sectors for the elimination of malaria.
He stressed that while government continues to drive the global and national efforts to eliminate the disease, individuals and communities must consciously adopt common practices, such as keeping the surroundings clean, sleeping inside treated bed nets and seek prompt diagnosis and treatment for suspected malaria to prevent complications that may lead to death.
The World Health Organization, WHO, on its part, called on government at all levels and communities to work closely with development partners to advance their countries along the road to elimination, while contributing to the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals.
The WHO Country Representative in Nigeria Dr. Walter Molumbo, who made the call at the ministerial briefing, pledged that WHO remains committed to continuing partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, National Malaria Elimination Programme and all other Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partners through provision of technical support and guidance to implement the activities necessary to meet the National goals
He noted that this year, the World Health Organization is highlighting the critical role of innovation in the fight against malaria, “Harness innovation to reduce the global malaria disease burden and save lives and expressed confidence that if countries work collaboratively, they can “Advance Equity. Build Resilience. End Malaria” urging them to remember that, “Every effort counts.
This according to the country representative, aligns with WHO’s call to urgently scale up innovation and deployment of new tools in the fight against malaria, while advocating equitable access to malaria prevention and treatment, within the context of building resilient health system.
He said there has been a growing political commitment at country, regional and international levels to tackle malaria, and has seen significant breakthroughs in malaria prevention and control, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The country representative recalled that the use of the first vaccine against malaria – RTS,S – was released by WHO late last year saying that the vaccine will be used to prevent malaria among c
