By Ngozi Nwoke
The prevalent and devastating impact of malaria on human health has remained a major cause for great concern around the world, despite being a preventable and treatable disease.
It is to this effect that the Lagos State Dealers Association (LSMDA) has called on the federal government’s intervention to reduce the high cost of malaria drugs as part of its efforts to rapidly lessen the burden of malaria and save lives.
Speaking in commemoration with the 2023 International World Malaria Day, president of the association, Mr. Alphonsus Okoroji, made the passionate appeal in Lagos recently.
Okoroji said malaria intervention should be regarded as a high-level case like any other life-threatening disease and must be tackled fiercely by the government, health organisations and people.
He noted that in order to strengthen preventive measures, improve malaria intervention and achieve a malaria free zone, government must have a partnership with drug manufacturers to make malaria drugs affordable mostly for people who live in vulnerable regions.
He said: “It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to this remarkable event in commemoration with the World Malaria Day which is a global event initiated by the World Health Organisation firstly celebrated in 2001, on every April 25th of the year.
“The focus is on educating the masses about the life-threatening disease and enlighten the populace about the right preventive techniques to apply. Through the collaboration of the government, NGOs, Organisations like our noble LSMDA, individuals and communities can together strengthen themselves against the deadly disease, malaria.
“The theme for this year is “Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate and Implement.” The concept is for the global malaria community to come together to celebrate progress and call on partners to invest in malaria programmes that deliver investment in malaria control and elimination, as well as innovate to deliver transformative and improved solution to end malaria.
“Our association has vital roles to play in the utilisation of these tools to deliver Zero malaria society, implement national strategies to accelerate progress against the age-old disease by demolishing leadership, adopt innovative and sustainable approaches and scale up national malaria programmes to deliver life saving tools to those at highest risk.
“We have to continue to do our best, cooperate with government, NGOs and other partners to invest, innovate and implement policies that will help us achieve a zero malaria society. I appreciate all pharmaceutical companies, hence we have been partners in progress. I also appeal to the government to improve the same partnership with pharmaceutical companies that can subsidise the cost of their malaria drugs to enable affordable drugs for mostly regions that are prone to malaria.
“In 2020, there were estimated 241 million new cases of malaria and 627,000 malaria-related deaths in 85 countries. More than two-thirds of deaths were among children under the age of five living in the African region. Most of these people living at the waterfront do not have access to hygienic water and their poor living condition attracts mosquitoes.”
With the theme of this year, ‘Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement,’ which is aimed to raise awareness of the need to implement strategies to prevent the disease, was also to reinstate the necessity to fight against fake malaria drugs.
On his part, secretary general of the association, Mr. Hope Ezenwoko, noted the preventive measures to tackle and avoid the disease.
He said: “Malaria is a serious disease that spreads when you are bitten by a mosquito infected by tiny parasites. When it bites,the mosquito injects malaria parasites into the bloodstream. Malaria is caused by the parasites, not by a virus or a type of bacterium. If it isn’t treated, malaria can cause severe health problems such as seizures, brain damage, trouble breathing, organ failure and death.
“The disese is rare in the U.S, with about 2000 cases per year. If you’re travelling to an area where malaria is common, talk to your health care provider about ways you can prevent being infected. People who are infected and travel U.S, can spread the diseases if a mosquito bites them and then bites someone else.
“Malaria is common in tropical areas where it’s hot and humid .In 2020, there were 241 million reported cases of malaria throughout the world, with 627,000 deaths due to malaria. The majority of these cases occur in Africa and South Asia.
“Malaria occurs all over the world and happens most often in developing countries and areas with warm temperatures and high humidity, including:Africa, Central and South America, Dominican Republic, Haiti and other areas in the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, South and South East Asia, Islands in the Central and South Pacific Ocean (Oceania).
“Anyone can get malaria, but people who live in Africa have a higher risk of infection than others. Young children, older people and those who are pregnant have an increased risk of dying from malaria. People who live in poverty and don’t have access to healthcare are more likely to have complications from the disease.
“More than 90% of malaria deaths occur in Africa, and nearly all the people who die are young children. More than 80% of malaria deaths in the region in 2020 involved children under the age of 5 years old.
“When a mosquito bites someone who has malaria, the mosquito become infected. When that mosquito bites someone else, it transfers a parasite to the other person’s bloodstream. There, the parasites multiply. There are five types of malaria parasites that can infect humans.
“In rare cases, people who are pregnant and who have malaria can transfer the disease to their children before or during child birth. It is possible, but unlikely, for malaria to be passed through blood transfusions, organ donations and hypodermic needles.
“Signs and symptoms of malaria are similar to flu symptoms. They include: Fever and sweating, Chills that shake your whole body, headache and muscles aches, fatigue, chest pain, breathing problems and cough, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. As malaria gets worse, it can cause anemia and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
“The most severe form of malaria, which may progress to a coma, is known as Cerebral malaria. This type of malaria represents about 15% deaths in children and nearly 20% of adult deaths. Malaria symptoms usually appear 10 days to one month after the person was infected. Depending on the type of parasite, symptoms can be mild. Some people don’t feel sick for a year after mosquito bite .
Parasites can sometimes live in the body for several years without causing symptoms.
“Some types of malaria, depending on the type of parasite, can occur again. The parasites are inactive in your liver and then are released into the bloodstream after years. The symptoms begin again when the parasites begin to circulate. It is important to share the symptoms with your healthcare provider who will take samples of your blood and test in the laboratory to see of you have malaria. If malaria is found in your blood test, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible.”
Photo Caption:
Members of the association.
