By Iheanyi Enwerem
In a bid to see to the total eradication of malaria disease in Imo State, the State government has reached out to World Health Organization,(W.H.O) and other international and local agencies in the fight against the dreaded disease.
Speaking during the 2024 World Malaria Day, observed at the Ministry of Health State Secretariat,New Owerri, on the theme “Accelerating the fight against malaria for more equitable world”, Thursday.
The acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Austine Okeji,noted that there were 249 million cases of malaria with Nigeria having 27% in 2022,also in same year there were 608,000 malaria deaths and 31% of which occured in Nigeria, this he said is according to WHO-Global malaria report 2023.
Dr. Okeji availed that Malaria elimination in Imo State requires more resources and partnership efforts to achieve the goals of the National Malaria strategic plan.
” Malaria is not only treated and curable, it is also preventable and can be eliminated. The state recorded 57,986 malaria cases in the public health facilities in 2023″. Okeji said
In a similar address WHO State Coordinator Dr. Wadzing Williams Bassi, hinted that poverty is part of the increase of the disease in Nigeria,opining that the eradication of malaria in the country is possible, however government at all levels should commit more funds.
Dr. Nnoruka Vincent, Director Vector Control/Lab Service Ministry of Health Control,asserted that the disease is a burden in the society,there is need for all to join hands in the eradication, stressing that it is only in Nigeria the disease is fighting back in the society.
Highpoint of the occasion was the distribution of malaria treated net to both nursing mothers and pregnant women,as both Directors Ministry of Health, and staff attended the event among others.