By Olayinka Ajani-Ajibade
Experts have called for joint responsibility to end the spread of malaria in the community by maintaining clean environments.
This call was made when they featured as guests on Diamond FM, Ilorin, Kwara State popular Yoruba Language News and Current Affairs Programme “E ba wa da si”.
According to a report by the World Health Organization, WHO, Nigeria recorded an estimated 68 million cases and 194 000 deaths due to malaria in 2021.
While contributing on the programme, a pediatrician with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH, Ilorin Kwara State, Dr Kayode Aliyu called for a periodic malaria test for children to prevent sudden death as a result of the disease.
“Parents must ensure they take their children for a periodic malaria test every three to six months especially during the rainy season”.
Aliyu furthered that parents must ensure that their children are taking a balanced diet to boost their immunity against malaria and ensure that children are taken to hospital for malaria treatments.
“It is important for parents to give their children foods that are rich in balance diet like; carrot, sweet potato and orange that are rich in zinc, vitamin A and Vitamin C”.
“Once they notice that a child has high temperature, the child must be taken to the hospital for proper diagnosis”.
On his part, Information Officer, Kwara State Ministry of Health, Gbenga Falade lauded the effort of the State Governor, Abudulraman Abdulrasak for spearheading the distribution of mosquito nets to every resident of the state and introduction of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention.
“Kwara State Government under the administration of Governor Abudulraman Abdulrasak has taken a giant step by distributing mosquito nets to people that are living both in the rural and urban areas”.
He added that the Governor has introduced seasonal Chemoprevention against malaria for children between three months and five years
“Governor Abdulrazaq-led administration introduced a Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention for children between the age of three months to five years, this effort is to prevent children under this age from having malaria”.
“Parents must ensure that their children complete this Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention to prevent malaria”.
In his remark, Case Management Office for Malaria, Kwara State Ministry of Health, Dr Kazeem Oladapo maintained that mosquito nets should be spread under a shed for 24 hours before first usage and should be washed with mild soap.
“Mosquito nets must be spread under a shed for 24 hours before the first usage and people can wash it three times in a year.”
“Another effort of the Kwara State Government is that diagnosis and malaria treatments are free in every government owned hospital across the state”.
While contributing on the programme, Mrs Yemisi Ajala, ACSM, Kwara State Ministry of Health called on mothers to maintain a clean environment to prevent mosquitoes.
“Mothers should always ensure that their environment is very clean to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in their environments”.
“They should ensure that no stagnated water, no broken bottles or unused tyre, anything that can hold water should be taken away from their environments”.