By NewsDesk @bactiman63
Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire said at a press conference in Abuja that at least, 30 children are lost to malaria daily in Nigeria, even though data points to the fact that malaria prevalence is on the decline.
He notes that the situation calls for urgent action from local and international stakeholders to salvage the future of Nigeria whose children are lost to malaria and other endemic diseases at early age in life.
He debunked some reports in the media that indicated that Federal Ministry of Health in 2022 budget proposal requested N82 billion be approved for it to purchase malaria nets.
The minister said: “There has been several initiatives in the fight against malaria in Nigeria that are beyond the purchase of mosquito nets alone. However, these initiatives have collectively contributed to the significant drop in malaria prevalence in Nigeria.”
Malaria is transmitted all over Nigeria; 76% of the population live in high transmission areas while 24% of the population live in low transmission areas.
According to the 2020 World Malaria Report, Nigeria had the highest number of global malaria cases (27% of global malaria cases) in 2019 and accounted for the highest number of deaths (23% of global malaria deaths).
“Malaria is the highest killer disease for children under the age of five in Nigeria. I just heard that pneumonia takes 19 percent and malaria 23 percent of children under the age of five.
“To put it in proper context, malaria accounts for 60 percent of outpatient hospital visits, 30 percent of hospital admissions, and it mostly affect the poor, the young, vulnerable and pregnant women. About 30 children estimated to be lost to malaria every day. That’s a lot”, the health minister said.
High Exposure to Malaria Linked to Lower Risks from COVID-19: Research
Ivermectin credited with eliminating river blindness in Plateau and Nasarawa states in Nigeria
