Citing Nigeria’s ability to eradicate guinea worm and defeat the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, currently ravaging the Democratic Republic of Congo, healthcare professionals have assured that with similar zeal and efforts, Nigeria could eradicate malaria from its territory.
For the experts, when Nigerians make conscious efforts to sleep under insecticide treated nets in their homes and also keep their environments clean from settings that breed malaria, then the scourge, which many believe is the biggest killer of children and pregnant women in the country can be defeated.
The Chief Oversight Officer, Sustainable Healthcare Initiative, an indigenous Non-Governmental Organisation, focused on strengthening health care system in the country, Dr. Mike Omotosho, believes that behavioural change could be a vital key to eradicating malaria in Nigeria.
According to him, when mosquitoes are free from the environment, people will definitely not have anything to do with malaria.
He said, “There’s no way malaria can exist without the possibility of mosquito not coming in contact with man. Once we are able to break the factor, somewhere along the line, there won’t be malaria again. And that is where behavioural change is very necessary. It may take time but I believe that eradicating it is possible through conscious adjustments.
“And don’t forget that because we are in the endemic area, if you do test for malaria now, they will find the parasite in you or me but it doesn’t mean that we have it. I also recognise the fears that we have because Nigeria alone is responsible for as much as 40 per cent of the global malaria pandemic, so you can understand the fears we have but I believe it is doable.”
Omotosho noted that Nigerians were resilient people, hence when there is a conscious drive by the various health bodies and governments, the people will take a queue.
He added, “This is a country of very resilient people. With the push the country is making and with the support from donor agencies and international partners, there’s drive towards all the areas. So now, there’s a lot of drive towards prevention, proper diagnosis and case management. These are the key
areas.
“When people have proper communication on how the bacteria causes malaria, how it is managed and how to ensure they get proper treatment, then we can say we are getting there. All hands must be on deck to achieve this. You will also notice the recent change from the National Malaria Control Programme to the National Malaria Elimination Programme. It is a gradual process but we will surely get there.”
