Afrigather 
Abuja, 8 Could, 2024 – Malaria stays a major public well being concern in lots of elements of the world, significantly in sub-Saharan African nations like Nigeria, the place the illness is endemic.
For a lot of households in Nigeria, the specter of mosquito bites poses a continuing threat, impacting each their well being and monetary stability. Nevertheless, using Lengthy-Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) has been a game-changer, particularly for households like that of Mr Unguwar Ayuba, residing in Maikunkele locality, Niger State.
Mr Ayuba and his household have been sleeping underneath the LLIN for 2 years and have solely constructive information to share.
“Utilizing mosquito nets has not solely prevented my family from falling sick, nevertheless it additionally allowed me to avoid wasting more cash for different important wants”, he says with a smile.
Mr Ayuba remembers that earlier than his household began sleeping underneath the LLIN, he spent a median of 15 thousand Naira bi-monthly on the remedy of malaria.
“Now, I guarantee my household sleeps underneath the online each night time and now not fear about mosquito bites. It has helped me focus extra on work and fear much less concerning the kids not attending faculty frequently as a consequence of sickness.
I admire those that introduced the initiative to us and would plead for them to make the online accessible for different households”, he provides.
Mr Ayuba was one of many beneficiaries of the LLIN distributed as a part of an area well being initiative by the Niger State Authorities and its companions, together with the World Well being Group (WHO), in 2022.
The goal is to get rid of malaria within the nation by 2030.
Whereas Nigeria continues to bear a considerable burden of malaria instances globally, important progress has been made within the battle towards the illness. Based on the 2023 World Malaria Report, malaria instances within the nation have plateaued since 2015, with an estimated annual caseload of about 63 million but displaying a downward pattern in malaria-related deaths.
Nevertheless, kids underneath 5 years and pregnant ladies stay particularly weak to malaria, highlighting the continued want for preventive measures.
The distribution of LLINs is among the many measures adopted by the federal government in its quest to get rid of malaria within the nation. The Lengthy-Lasting nets Handled with pesticides, not solely repel mosquitoes but in addition contribute to lowering mosquito populations over time, thereby curbing the unfold of malaria inside communities.
In sustaining the battle towards malaria in Nigeria, WHO has been taking part in a pivotal function by offering steerage, assets, and technical help to federal and state governments. Collaborating with the Nigerian authorities, by means of the Nationwide Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), WHO with funding from international funds facilitates coordination amongst stakeholders and presents technical help in guiding coverage formulation and response.
Becoming a member of Nigeria to commemorate 2024 World Malaria Day, WHO Nation Consultant in Nigeria Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, represented by Dr Alex Chimabru, the Deputy Nation Consultant says the battle towards malaria isn’t just a well being situation, it’s a matter of social justice and human rights.
Reiterating WHO’s continuous help to FMoH/NMEP and all different Malaria companions by means of the supply of technical help and steerage to implement the actions needed to satisfy the Nationwide objectives, Dr Mulombo states that “By accelerating our efforts to increase entry to life-saving interventions, enhance well being techniques, and deal with the underlying determinants of malaria transmission, we will create a extra equitable world the place everybody has the chance to thrive.
Allow us to change the narrative now and work collectively to beat the challenges that stand in the best way of malaria elimination. Via collective motion, innovation, and unwavering dedication, we will obtain our shared purpose of a malaria-free future for all”.
World Malaria Day, held on 25 March yearly goals to boost consciousness of the life-threatening illness. This 12 months’s theme, ‘Speed up the Struggle Towards Malaria for a Extra Equitable World’, highlights the necessity for higher political intervention in malaria management and prevention.
