Featured, Health
THE World Health Organisation, WHO, has confirmed in its 2018 World Malaria Report, of the significant rise in estimated cases from 52.4 million in 2016 to 53.7 million in 2017, indicating an estimated three million additional cases.
By Benprince Ezeh
The Federal Government has also expressed fears that several gains earlier achieved in the fight against malaria scourge in Nigeria are gradually being eroded.
The National Coordinator National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, Audu Bala Mohammed, said recently at a media chat in Abuja that the only way out was to increase mobilisation of funds to enhance campaign, access and coverage of intervention commodities.
Muhammed recalled that the national malaria prevalence dropped from 42 percent to 27 percent between 2010 and 2015, but was worried that the achievement was gradually being eroded due to complacency.
“There are over 53 million cases of malaria in Nigeria annually which accounts for 25 percent of global malaria burden. It means that one in every four Nigerians has malaria.
“There are 81, 640 deaths every year in Nigeria, approximately 9 deaths per hour. Nigeria, undoubtedly, accounts for 19 percent of global malaria deaths. It also means that one in five global deaths is recorded in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking on the development, Felicita Ogbu, a doctor explained that malaria is a severe virus that kills often, but one needs to see some signs and symptoms such as impaired consciousness, multiple convulsions, shock, hyperparasetemia, significant bleeding (recurrent bleeding from nose, gum, anus (melena), etc.
“These symptom are very easy to notice and many do neglect them for simple and usual thing within the environment,” she said.
According to Ogbu, if not managed well, its complications may result in severe Anemia, coma and high fever.
Theresa Adebola John, a doctor and lecturer at Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM, said that mosquitoes have an interesting life cycle, which involves laying their eggs on water and the early stages of mosquito life, the larva and pupa, are aquatic.
“The eggs hatch and become larvae in the water within 2 days. In about a week or two, the larvae become pupae, form which adult flies emerge in about four days. Therefore any small collection of water lying around for a few weeks may be good breeding ground for mosquitoes.
“If you live near a pond, lake, swamp, or marsh, you can be sure that you need to keep your home sealed from mosquitoes. Some kinds of trees have tree holes in their trunk that can hold a small pool of water for long and produce a constant supply to mosquitoes, especially during the rainy season,” she said.
According to John, It’s not only seen in rural areas, for those that live in the city, there are many conducive mosquito habitats. “Some of these mosquito habitats are within infrastructures that humans build such as in potholes in the sides of roads where cars do not pass, or in holes and gaps on foot paths, or in street gutters.
“Around human habitats, mosquitoes may breed in stagnant water in roof gutters, in open water tanks, and in waste products of human activities such as old tires, tin cans, plastic containers, etc. Plastic pollution is particularly interesting to watch as this may stagnate water for long in waste dumps and clogged drainage systems,” John said.
In the same vein, she said that for you to control the breeding of mosquitoes around your habitat, you need to get rid of conducive mosquito habitats. “Keep your environment neat and tidy. This includes not having water-holding litter or trash; filling gaps and cracks that can hold water in cement works, on fences, or on the ground. Keep old tires sheltered from rain water. Trash bins should be covered to avoid rain water from entering and settling at the bottom. Open containers left exposed to rain should be perforated at the bottom so that they do not hold water.
“If you have a swimming pool, keep it chlorinated. This limits the growth of microbial life that mosquito larva need to live on. If you have an unused fountain or any other body of water, you can make the water uncomfortable or toxic for mosquito larvae and pupae.
“Try any of the known means: a few drops of dish soap or shampoo per gallon of stagnant water; one tablespoon bleach per gallon of stagnant water; up to 15% vinegar for a small body of water,” she said.
She also stressed that climate change can affect the life cycle of mosquitoes and the transmission of malaria and such changes need constant study.
However, it is known that some mosquito species are adaptable; the eggs, larvae, or pupae may lay dormant through unfavourable conditions and rejuvenate when conditions are conducive for them.
Overall, making the environment non conducive for mosquito breeding is very important for limiting the transmission of malaria parasites.
– Sept. 23, 2019 @ 09:23 GMT |
Tags: WHO raises alarm over significant rise in malaria cases
