By Doris Obinna
Director, Centre for Transdisciplinary Research in Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (CTRMNTD), Prof. Wellington Oyibo, has reiterated the urgent need for a unified national response to tackle malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria.
Speaking recently, at a virtual meeting with members of the Health Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), Oyibo described the diseases as deeply rooted in poverty and linked to poor access to clean water, sanitation, and quality healthcare.
He decried Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported malaria control commodities, despite its large population and the capacity to manufacture local alternatives such as insecticide treated nets, diagnostic tools, and medicines. He argued that local production would not only enhance accessibility but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Oyibo emphasised CTRMNTD’s unique multidisciplinary approach, which brings together science, humanities, environmental engineering, health economics, and even literature, in addressing the multifaceted nature of malaria and NTDs. He pointed out that combating these diseases requires innovation, accurate information, and strong community participation. One of the Centre’s priorities, he noted, is to use new tools and knowledge to encourage community uptake of effective health interventions, such as testing before treatment and consistent use of preventive measures like mosquito nets.
He challenged the widespread belief that malaria can be treated without diagnosis, warning that indiscriminate treatment is not only ineffective but also potentially dangerous. According to him, malaria is no longer evenly spread across Nigeria, and treating all fevers as malaria wastes resources and increases the risk of drug resistance.
He stressed that meaningful impact can only be achieved when 90 per cent of the population consistently adopts preventive and diagnostic practices, adding that partial adoption rates of 40 to 60 per cent are insufficient to reduce disease burden.
He further expressed concern over the slow adoption of rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs) within the health system, despite its accuracy and potential to prevent unnecessary use of antimalarial drugs. He cited areas like Lagos, where malaria incidence has declined significantly, as examples where RDTs can make a major difference in treatment accuracy and drug stewardship.
Highlighting the disproportionate impact of NTDs on women, particularly female genital schistosomiasis, which remains underreported and contributes to reproductive health issues such as infertility and stillbirths, he described it as a grave injustice that women and girls are exposed to such infections through routine activities like farming and swimming in infested water, not as a result of poor personal choices but due to environmental and systemic neglect.
Calling for a shift toward inclusive, community-driven research, the Prof. urged Nigerians to take personal responsibility and ask themselves, “What can I do?” rather than waiting for government or international intervention. He announced that CTRMNTD is conducting a comparative study between microscopy and RDTs, focusing on the behaviours of healthcare providers and the preferences of patients when choosing between diagnostic testing and presumptive treatment.
He advocated for a national culture shift toward evidence based treatment, in line with global best practices, where diagnosis precedes the use of medication. Such a shift, he said, would not only improve health outcomes but also curb the unnecessary use of drugs.
In his concluding remarks, Oyibo underscored the importance of mass mobilisation, public education, and multi-sectoral partnerships involving the health sector, media, agriculture, and local communities. He called for community ownership of disease control efforts, especially in rural areas where poor infrastructure and agricultural activities increase vulnerability to malaria.
While appealing to all stakeholders including journalists, health workers, and ordinary citizens to serve as agents of change in their communities, he echoed a biblical call for personal responsibility, affirming his belief that with collective commitment and local action, malaria can not only be controlled but eventually eradicated from Africa.