From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Government has announced a significant reduction in malaria prevalence in the state, from 60% to less than 15% in the last five years.
Dr. Gaza Gwamna, Commissioner for Health, disclosed this on Tuesday at a media parley on the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) initiative. He attributed the feat to the support of the Malaria Consortium (MC).
“The burden of malaria has reduced drastically to less than 15% in the last three years, particularly amongst children,” Gwamna noted. “From the creation of the state, the burden of malaria used to be 60%. This was reduced to 30% in 2019 and now stands at less than 15%.”
The state government aims to administer malaria drugs to 985,788 eligible individuals, especially children under five years old, in 2024. Their goal is to reduce the prevalence of malaria to zero percent.
Gwamna advised residents to regularly get tested for malaria. “Not all fevers are malaria-related, and self-medication can lead to complications,” he warned.
He emphasised the importance of sleeping under treated mosquito nets, stating, “This practice is currently the most effective method to prevent malaria.”
The commissioner commended journalists for their support in the campaign against malaria and appealed for their continued support to enable the state to eliminate the disease.
“We are investing towards eliminating malaria, as it is responsible for the death of many people,” Gwamna said. “Let’s work together to reduce the burden of malaria in Nasarawa State.”