Kaduna State Program Officer of ACOMIN, Ogidi Nicodemus said this during a press conference held in Kaduna.
Ogidi lamented that the prevalence of the disease in the country was a major source of concern for all.
According to him “Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease and a major public health concern in Nigeria, as it accounts for 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths according to WHO report on Malaria in Nigeria, 2022.
Mr explained that according to the World Malaria Report 2022, Nigeria accounted for approximately 27% of the global malaria burden in 2021 and 31% of the estimated malaria deaths worldwide.
“The WHO estimates that severe malaria caused 194,000 deaths in 2021, with about 80% of these fatalities occurring in children under five.
” The high incidence of malaria cases in Nigeria calls for sustained engagement by relevant stakeholders.
Following the successful completion of the NFM 3 Malaria Grant, Global Fund has approved another three-year Malaria Grant for Nigeria, led by the National Malaria Elimination Programme and Catholic Relief Services.”
He explained that ACOMIN has been implementing projects on malaria, immunization, and nutrition in Nigeria since 2010. Based on its non-political, non-sectarian, and non-profit status it has become a strong platform for coordinating the activities of over 1200 NGOs/ CBOs in the thematic areas stated above.
ACOMIN, alongside other global and national stakeholders, under the leadership of the Government of Nigeria at all levels is now increasingly focusing on eliminating malaria, owing to the severity of the problem.
Mr. Ogidi in the bid to promote and achieve improved malaria and health outcomes within Kaduna communities, ACOMIN recognizes the importance of the Primary Healthcare System and thus has focused attention on factors that facilitate effectiveness at that level. Effective prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support services for infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis (TB), and others are crucial, especially for vulnerable populations and those in remote or underserved areas.
“However, our community-led monitoring activities indicate that some challenges that hinder effective service provision still subsist. These challenges include inadequate staffing, equipment shortages, regular stockouts of medical supplies, and high treatment costs.
“The shortage of human resources at the facilities places a heavy burden on the existing staff, leading to burnout and reduced efficiency in healthcare delivery.
“Also, it has been seen that accurate and timely documentation is essential for effective healthcare delivery, but, due to limited staff, documentation often takes a back seat to immediate patient care needs, leading to incomplete, inconsistent, and sometimes inaccurate records”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Kaduna State ACOMIN Diji Obadiah Haruna lamented that Malaria is still a health issue according the Global statistics, Nigeria has one of the highest malaria burdens globally.
He stressed that the WHO reports that ‘In 2019, 6 countries accounted for approximately half of all malaria deaths worldwide and Nigeria has (23%),
Diji hinted that ACOMIN was striving to develop working relationships and linkages with media organizations in Kaduna and personalities for the increased funding of services
and to introduce the accountability and advocacy component of the project to the media and communities.
According to him “Malara is one of Nigeria’s most important public health concerns because of the illness and death it causes to millions of people. This treatable and preventable disease is caused by a group of parasites called plasmodium and is transmitted through the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito.
“Malaria is transmitted all over Nigeria”. He hinted that since 2019, Nigeria has recorded the highest number of global malaria cases (27% of global malarial cases) and accounted for the highest number of deaths (23% of global malarial deaths) In rural populations, prevalence is 2.4 times that in urban populations (31% vs 13%).
“Pregnant women and children under the age of s are the most vulnerable groups to malaria. Pregnant women infected with malaria usually have more severe symptoms and outcomes, with higher rates of miscarriage, intrauterine demise, premature delivery, low birth weight in newborn babies, and neonatal death.”
