Malaria Elimination - A Light at the end of the Tunnel?
April 25th was World Malaria day and though that was five days ago, the good news about malaria is still trending so I thought it would be nice to blog about it.
Finally a Malaria vaccine has been approved to be tested in 3 african countries and there's no one in the world happier about it than me. I can just imagine the impact an effective malaria vaccine would have on the quality of life of children, pregnant women and the whole Nigerian population.
Malaria is still the commonest diagnosis made in Nigerian hospitals. Well, I think so, as 70% of the patients I see on an out-patient basis have malaria, be it adults or children. And this is right now, when reports say that the rate of new malaria cases in sub-sahara africa including Nigeria have reduced by 21% and deaths due to malaria have reduced by 31%. So just imagine how bad it must have been about 10 years ago. Even right now, according to the WHO, a child still dies every 2 minutes from malaria.
We are grateful for the progress but we must keep up the efforts to reduce the malaria transmission.While I'm disappointed that Nigeria isn't getting any vaccines yet, especially as we suffer the world's greatest malaria burden; we must help ourselves by practicing proven methods that reduce malaria transmission. These are:
-Sleeping under a long-lasting insecticide treated net.
-Spraying indoor walls with insecticides.
-Preventive medicines for children and pregnant women
Please lets all ensure that every child and pregnant woman without exception, sleeps under a net. Everyone should actually, but children and pregnant women are most susceptible to the disease. So they are high priority.
By now, I'm sure most Nigerians are familiar with the symptoms as malaria is very common among us but don't assume. Once a child is ill for whatever reason, get to the hospital, get tested and get treated. Early treatment may just save a life.
Hopefully, the vaccine will be effective and eventually get to Nigeria. Then, we can breathe a sigh of relief that we are finally out of the dark tunnel imposed by malaria.
Stay Safe, sleep under a net, stay fabulous, and stay healthy-pink.
Dr. Anire Oduko.
Finally a Malaria vaccine has been approved to be tested in 3 african countries and there's no one in the world happier about it than me. I can just imagine the impact an effective malaria vaccine would have on the quality of life of children, pregnant women and the whole Nigerian population.
Malaria is still the commonest diagnosis made in Nigerian hospitals. Well, I think so, as 70% of the patients I see on an out-patient basis have malaria, be it adults or children. And this is right now, when reports say that the rate of new malaria cases in sub-sahara africa including Nigeria have reduced by 21% and deaths due to malaria have reduced by 31%. So just imagine how bad it must have been about 10 years ago. Even right now, according to the WHO, a child still dies every 2 minutes from malaria.
We are grateful for the progress but we must keep up the efforts to reduce the malaria transmission.While I'm disappointed that Nigeria isn't getting any vaccines yet, especially as we suffer the world's greatest malaria burden; we must help ourselves by practicing proven methods that reduce malaria transmission. These are:
-Sleeping under a long-lasting insecticide treated net.
-Spraying indoor walls with insecticides.
-Preventive medicines for children and pregnant women
Please lets all ensure that every child and pregnant woman without exception, sleeps under a net. Everyone should actually, but children and pregnant women are most susceptible to the disease. So they are high priority.
By now, I'm sure most Nigerians are familiar with the symptoms as malaria is very common among us but don't assume. Once a child is ill for whatever reason, get to the hospital, get tested and get treated. Early treatment may just save a life.
Hopefully, the vaccine will be effective and eventually get to Nigeria. Then, we can breathe a sigh of relief that we are finally out of the dark tunnel imposed by malaria.
Stay Safe, sleep under a net, stay fabulous, and stay healthy-pink.
Dr. Anire Oduko.
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