By Ayodele Oni
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka has observed that malaria remains one of the killer diseases in the world.
The Commissioner, who spoke in Akure on this year’s world malaria day, noted that malaria is a burden mostly in sub Saharan Africa with statistics that the disease constitutes more than 60 percent of all cases at the health facilities.
According to him, it is also responsible for 30 percent death of children under the age of five and 10 percent death of pregnant women due to its complications yearly.
He reiterated the government avowed commitment to reducing malaria in the state.
Ajaka stated that theme of this year’s world malaria day is ” Time to deliver zero malaria” stressing that malaria remains a burden mostly in sub Saharan Africa.
The Commissioner said that Government has distributed about three million insecticidal nets to all households in the 18 local government areas in the state to reduce the prevalence of malaria.
He further explained that the state has continued to do follow up to ensure increased utilization of these nets in the homes, especially among pregnant women and children under the age of five.
Ajaka added that the follow up has yielded results as evidenced by the newly released report by the National Malaria Indicator Survey 2021 released in 2023, which shows that the prevalence of malaria in the state has reduced from 34 percent to 27 percent.
The Commissioner assured that government would continue to invest in the reduction of prevalence of malaria in the state through channeling more resources, both funds and materials in the fight against malaria and bring new ideas in combating the scourge of disease, as well as put into action the ideas that have been put in place.
He disclosed that government has been partnering with Civil Society Organisations in the 18 local government areas to sensitize and create awareness to the citizens at the grassroots on the prevention of malaria
The Commissioner appreciated those partners that have been working to reduce the prevalence of malaria in the state, especially the World Health Organization (WHO), Malaria Consortium, John Hopkins University of Programmes Implementation Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) and National Malaria Elimination Programme, Abuja.
Dr Ajaka called for more international partnership to enhance a collective malaria elimination in the state.
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