By Tracy Ohovwore & Aigbede Osariemen
April 25, 2024
April 25th marks World Malaria Day, an event to reflect on global efforts to combat one of humanity’s oldest and deadliest diseases with the shared goal of “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.
Malaria is a disease caused by a plasmodium parasite, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The World Health Organization – WHO sees it as a life-threatening disease spread by an infected female anopheles mosquito which is usually common in tropical countries like Nigeria.
Statistically, the WHO malaria facts & statistics revealed that there were 249 million malaria cases in 2022, with a record of 608,000 malaria deaths. In 2021, a record of 247 million cases were reported globally.
In Africa, the WHO estimated that about 94% of all malaria deaths occur in Africa- most especially children under the age of 5 which implies that malaria is partly responsible for the high mortality rate in Africa.
According to the report on Malaria in Nigeria 2020 by WHO estimated 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths due to the disease in 2021. Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria globally, accounting for nearly one-third of the world’s annual 619,000 malaria deaths, accounting for about 32% of the global malaria burden in 2021.
These figures highlight the ongoing challenge we face in combating malaria and the urgent need for greater efforts to control and prevent its spread.
Malaria is preventable and curable. Unlike other diseases, malaria is caused by a parasite and does not spread from one person to another.
Symptoms can also be mild or life-threatening which include; chills, fever and sweating, fatigue, pain in the muscles or abdomen, malaise, nausea or vomiting, severe headache, and fast heart rate.
When diagnosed with malaria, symptoms can be cured within 2 weeks. But people who live in mosquito-infested areas may never fully recover, especially malnourished children.
However, if left untreated, it can become fatal. This means it can lead to severe health problems such as seizures, brain damage, difficulty in breathing, organ failure, and finally death.
Infants and young children, especially those under five, are particularly affected, with disparities in access to education and financial resources compounding their risk.
Pregnant women also face heightened risks, as pregnancy reduces immunity to malaria, making them more susceptible to infection and severe disease. Without timely and appropriate intervention, malaria in pregnancy can have devastating consequences, including severe anemia, maternal death, stillbirth, premature delivery, and low-birth-weight babies.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that people infected with malaria should seek immediate treatment so that the mortality rate can be drastically reduced.
CDC also advises that one of the most effective ways of battling the disease is by adopting preventive measures which suggest avoiding being bitten by mosquitoes by sleeping under a mosquito net, using mosquitoes/ insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants (wearing permethrin-treated clothing) as well as keeping the environment clean and healthy so that there are no breeding places for mosquitoes to thrive.
In recent years, global efforts have been made to reduce the prevalence of malaria which poses a serious threat to public health and exacerbates inequalities within communities. However, remarkable efforts have been made in eradicating malaria most especially with the emergence of the vaccine.
Nigeria, a country that greatly suffers from malaria, has recently approved a promising vaccine known as R21. This vaccine has shown significant potential in early trials, with up to 80% of vaccinated children remaining free from malaria.
The approval of the R21 vaccine is anticipated to bring hope for reducing the burden of this disease and saving countless lives in the country.
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The Nigerian Observer is a daily newspaper published in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, since 1968 by the Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL) and is owned by the Edo State Government
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