By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan
A Physician at the National Hospital Abuja (NHA), Dr Henry Ewunonu, has urged the government at all levels, Non-Governmental Organisations, well meaning Nigerians and citizens to take the fight for malaria eradication in the country more seriously.
Ewunonu, a Health Rights Advocate made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ibadan.
He said that the fight should be led by the Federal Ministry of Health and its partners to enable Nigerians key into their programme to push for the eradication.
The Physician emphasised that eradicating malaria as some African countries like Mauritius, Algeria and Cape Verde have, was achievable.
“This will also reduce substantially the mortality rate from the current 31.1 per cent to perhaps a single digit.
“That our country which is about 2.78 per cent of the world’s population, contributes more than one quarter of the malaria burden and about one third of its mortality, should be unacceptable to all.
“So all hands must be on ground to eradicate malaria in Nigeria,” he said.
Ewunonu said that eradicating malaria would require more resource and investment as well as using evidence-based approaches that worked for other countries to deploy resources.
The Health Rights Advocate recalled that the Federal Government had promised to roll out malaria vaccines, using Kebbi and Bayelsa as pilot states, in an effort to reduce the prevalence of the disease from 26.6 per cent (in 2022) to 10 per cent (in 2025).
He enjoined citizens to embrace all the malaria prevention strategies and practices to protect themselves against the bite of mosquitoes in spite of the harsh hot weather and poor energy supplies to homes.
The physician also urged Nigerians to always visit health facilities for the early detection and treatment of malaria which he described as “agent of death”.
“Finally, the time to enact health as a justiciable right in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is now.
“The National Assembly should take up this plea as a national call to duty with the sense of urgency and patriotism it deserves.
"God bless Nigeria, it shall be well," Ewunonu added. (NAN)
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