Despite the reduction in malaria prevalence in Nigeria from 27% in 2015 to 23% in 2018 according NDHIS, over 31 million estimated cases of malaria occur annually in Nigeria.
Speaking today at a media parley organized by the Sokoto State Government in collaboration with the United States President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI-US) in preparation to the formal distribution of 3.1 million insecticide treated nets to residents, Fatimah Shehu said, 2 out of 4 persons having malaria in West African sub region live in Nigeria.
Fatimah Shehu, who is a Senior Media Programme Officer, from USAID’s Breakthrough–Action Nigeria added that malaria is exerting huge social and economic burden on our communities and country as billions of naira are lost annually on treatment and loss of precious working hours.
While stressing that an estimated 30% of child mortality and 11% of maternal deaths each year are due to malaria, Fatimah said prevalence of malaria in children under the age of 5 in Sokoto state 32.7%.
She further appealed to media practitioners in Nigeria to put more efforts in their reportage on causes, and preventive measures of malaria such as consistent use of mosquito treated nets.
On his part, Sokoto State Commissioner of Health, Dr Muhammed Ali Inname represented by the Director General, Sokoto State Malaria Control Agency, Dr Muslulimi Adamu Gobir said
active participation of the media can make the campaign on the distribution and usage of mosquito treated nets successful.
Dr Muslulimi who divulged aside contributing it’s counterpart fund of about 178 million naira to the total 534 million to be expended on the programme, added that Sokoto state will deploy 1500 personnel for this year’s campaign and distribution of the ITN.
He further implore expected benefiting households not to sell the ITN, as according to him, they have measures in place to ensure arrest and prosecution of anybody defaulter.
