Malaria experts have said more strategic planning and effective partnership with investment of more resources into malaria research remained the best way to eliminate the scourge in the country.
The experts made the assertion on Wednesday at a Symposium organised by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, to mark World Malaria Day.
World Malaria Day is commemorated very April 25 to draw attention to the ailment and scale-up strategies to eliminate the disease.
The theme for this year`s commemoration is “Invest in the Future, Defeat Malaria.”
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, in his keynote address, said malaria was a deadly mosquito-borne disease which had remained an issue of public health concern.
“An estimated 100 million malaria cases and about 300,000 deaths each year make Nigeria the country with the highest number of malaria cases and fatalities worldwide.
“Malaria is responsible for 60 percent of outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 percent of childhood deaths, 25 percent of deaths in children under one year and 11 per cent of maternal death,” he said
Idris explained that the use of the Long Lasting Insecticide Nets remained one of the most effective malaria vector control methods available to date in the fight against malaria.
He added that the LLINs acted as a physical barrier and prevented mosquitoes from gaining access to individuals sleeping under it.
“The Lagos State Government has been employing a multi-pronged approach, including environmental management and integrated vector control, appropriate diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases.
“It has also engaged in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy and operational research, while using its results for evidenced based programming and planning.
“I urge the public to take appropriate actions through what is called attitudinal change to help to sustain the gains made so far in the malaria eradication efforts in the state,” he said.
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