Anokwuru Uche Alexis|28 April 2019
—to achieve drastic reduction in malaria prevalence
“Zero malaria starts with me,” is the theme of the 2019 World Malaria Day as represents a grassroots campaign that aims to keep Malaria high on the political agenda, mobilize additional resources, and empower communities to take ownership of Malaria prevention and care.
In Cross River State there’s a continuous drive to maintain the reduction in the malaria prevalence rate in the State which moved from 44% to 24% in recent times, as a result of the deliberate efforts by the State Government in organizing continuous sensitization exercise across the State on the proper use of the Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets and also encourage them to sleep inside these nets.
"Globally Malaria affects 3.3 billion people in 106 countries and territories, and an estimated 100million malaria cases with over 300,000 deaths in Nigeria, making it a major public health problem.
Cross River State has witnessed a reduction in malaria prevalence by half in recent times as current prevalence shows 24% as against 44% previously, which is where lies our focus for the 2019 WMD.
We are bracing up for the largest LLINs distribution exercise in the State in partnership with USAID where 850,257 households across the state will benefit from the 2,361,882 nets already available for the exercise." – Dr. Inyang Asibong, Commissioner for Health.
While the DG of State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Betta Edu pointed that along with the proper use of the LLINs, keeping a good environmental hygiene is also another way of avoiding mosquito bites and thus eliminating malaria. She made this known during the campaign at the Big Qua community in Calabar, the State capital.
Malaria kills a child every two minutes thereby leaving under-5 children and pregnant women as the most vulnerable. It is also the third leading cause of death in children after pneumonia and diarrhea diseases.
It would be recalled that the wife of the State Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade, during the 2018 Malaria Day celebration started the net-installation strategy in Akpabuyo LGA which is now being widespread across the State. This also explains the decision of the State Government to ensure every household in the State has at least 2 Long Lasting insecticide treated nets by deliberately organizing an array of activities to maintain this distribution.
The event is always celebrated on the 25th of April yearly.
