by Nedu Okorie

2 minutes read

As malaria remains a major health issue in Nigeria with an estimated 68 million cases and 194 thousand deaths in 2021. It has accounted for nearly 27 percent of the global malaria burden. According to the World Health Organization report in 2022, malaria is an acute fever illness caused by plasmodium parasite which has spread to people through bites of infected female mosquitoes.

However it is preventable and curable. A report by the World Health Organization and the estimated malaria cases in Kwara State account for 1.1 percent of the country’s 58 million malaria cases in 2021. From 2018 to 2021 the estimated cases remained around 1 million. 

A nurse at the university of Ilorin teaching hospital Miss. Boluwatife Adenekan says that  malaria cannot be eliminated totally unless the female anopheles mosquitoes goes into extinction which may be impossible because the climate in Nigeria helps this insect to thrive.

“Malaria is a persistent problem, something that Nigeria has not gained independence from, despite all the measures taken against it and I also think it also has an input to the maternity rate in Nigeria and it also places the economic burden both on individuals and as a nation. Preventative measures such as the use of insecticide is one way malaria can be reduced. Malaria cannot be totally eliminated except the female anopheles mosquito goes into extinction, which I don’t think. The fact that mosquitoes exist, it’s most likely malaria will also persist.” Says Miss. Adenekan.

She therefore adviced that when the symptoms of malaria are noticed, it is best to seek medical attention, and one should equally avoid over the counter drugs so as to prevent further complications.

She added that “Because of the fact that malaria is something that is very small, some people don’t even treat it; they leave it untreated because they believe the symptoms disappear on their own. She adviced that “if you have any symptoms of malaria it is very advisable for you to treat it. There is severe malaria, and there is complicated malaria, and when malaria becomes very complicated it can cause organ failure and it can eventually lead to death, it can also lead to liver failure.”

In 2023, Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, received a national commendation from the Global fund. The body rated the administration as one of the best in the fight against malaria. Governor Abdulrahman personally launched the state wide distribution of integrated seasonal malaria chemo-prevention and insecticide treated nets, across communities in the state.

In the same vein, the first lady of Kwara State Olufolake Abdulrazaq, in 2023 pledged to use her office to ensure that children in the state no longer die of malaria. She made the pledge after her investiture as the malaria ambassador for the state by the society for family health.

In terms of prevention through health insurance the Claims Officer for the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency, Mrs. Iwarere Titilope, disclosed that health insurance has not been properly welcomed by people in Nigeria.

“People are not used to paying a certain amount of money, ahead, in case they fall sick. We pray against sickness. When you tell people about health insurance, they tend to ask, why should I pay for health? I don’t pray to be sick. But the truth of the matter is, sickness is something that can happen to anybody at any time”. Says Mrs. Titilope.

She however advised Nigerians to insure their health, as it is important to get adequate and affordable health care even when one is sick or broke.

“Whether we like it or not, at a point in time we would get sick. We only pray against severe or very complicated illnesses. There are some seasons where you have a high case of malaria, especially the rainy season. So my advice to people is to be insured, get health insurance, it is very important and beneficial to every individual to get health insurance so that by the time you need to go to the hospital, you don’t have to run helter-skelter for money. Once you are insured, be it whatever ailment, as far as you have health insurance, and it covers the illness, you will be sure that whenever you are sick you can go to the hospital to access care without paying any extra fee, but if you don’t have health insurance, you could be broke and sick at the same time, how will you do it??

Citizens of Kwara state are therefore adviced to adopt preventive measures in other to ensure a malaria free environment.