The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Perpetua Uhumoibhi, has implored healthcare practitioners to take cognisance of the dangers posed by malaria and its vector, mosquitoes.
She noted that about 11.7 million deaths have been averted due to concerted efforts made by global partners to end malaria in the world.
The national coordinator said this at a webinar organised by the Management Sciences for Health, an American-based health advisory organisation, to mark the 2023 World Malaria Day.
She, however, said that the new challenges posed by malaria, if not checked, would threaten the progress recorded in the fight against the disease.
Dr. Uhumoibhi said lack of integration of health services in primary care and at community levels in some countries could pose a new challenge in the fight against malaria globally.
“It is important that countries set up a resilient health system to tackle malaria. One way to build a resilient health system is to carry out the integration of all health services at the primary care level and at the community level.
“Nigeria was able to reach out to about 23 million children with malaria preventive services in spite of the challenges of COVID-19 in 2020 because of an effective system,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr. Corine Ngufor, Co-Chair of Roll Back Malaria Vector Control Working Group, said one of the threats to malaria elimination is resistance built by mosquitoes against insecticides.
She urged Nigerians and other countries to build resilience against the threats and forge a common front against malaria.
Dr. Ngufor identified new vectors as another threat in the fight against malaria.
She said vectors survive high temperatures which could lead to high malaria cases.
Professor Olugbenga Mokuolu, a malaria technical expert at MSH, stressed the need for systems that could respond quickly to unanticipated shocks in the healthcare system.
He said, “We need new drugs, new diagnostic methods, new outdoor and indoor residual control of mosquitoes and the use of technology to train health workers virtually to provide quick response when needed.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the webinar ended with recommendations that countries require strong health systems, effective vector control strategies, and to have health workers on the ground in communities for successful malaria control to be achieved.
(NAN)
