Dr. Asuquo Ekwe, Director General, Cross River Roll-Back Malaria office, on Monday, said Nigeria’s two-pronged approach in the fight against malaria had reduced the prevalence of the disease.
Ekwe disclosed this in Calabar while commemorating the World Malaria Day.
World Malaria Day is marked annually on April 25 to focus global attention on malaria, and its devastating impact on families, communities and societal development, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The DG said the reduction became possible because of the two major strategies of vector and case management of malaria in the nation.
He quoted the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) of 2018 as revealing the reduction of malaria prevalence in the nation from about 40 per cent in 2015 to about 23 per cent, and was actually 19.5 per cent in Cross River.
He added that based on another survey conducted for 2022, though the result was yet to be out, he was sure that the result would be lower than that of 2018 because of the measures taken by the nation.
“Using vector management, we have been able to sensitise our people extensively on the need to sleep under mosquito treated nets and keep their environments clean to prevent mosquitoes thriving. We have also enlightened our people on the issue of indoor residual spraying that attacks mosquitoes who escaped into the house and the use of mosquito repellent creams that protect people from mosquito bites. There is also the issue of case management of malaria as our people now know that testing and care for malaria is free in our health centres instead of carrying out self-medication,” he said.
Speaking further Ekwe said that at the national level, the target was to reduce the prevalence of malaria by 2025 to less than 10 per cent, adding that this was possible through more awareness creation.