18th August, 2017
The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) has urged the media to collaborate with it on malaria control, care and prevention in Nigeria.
According to the organization, collaboration with Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) would help to achieve the programme’s strategic plan of ensuring total elimination of malaria in Nigeria by 2020.
The National Coordinator of NMEP, Dr Audu Mohammed, made the call on Friday during a “Media Chat on Malaria’’ organised by HEWAN, Lagos Chapter, in collaboration with the body.
The theme of the media parley is “Management of Malaria in Pregnancy’’.
Mohammed, represented by Dr Joel Akilah, Head of Integrated Vector Management in NMEP, said that the importance of the meeting could not be overemphasised because malaria was a major public health concern in Nigeria
“This is especially when considered against the backdrop of the negative effects of malaria attacks on our social and economic development as a result of absenteeism from schools, offices and farms.
“Over 90 per cent of Nigerians are at risk of malaria while children under-five and pregnant women are seen to be more vulnerable to this disease, hence the focus of this discussion.’’
He said: “Although Nigeria has made giant strides in the fight against malaria, a lot of work still needs to be done to eliminate malaria in Nigeria.
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“There has been reduction in the prevalence of malaria from 42 per cent (according to the Malaria Indicator Survey MIS 2010) to 27 per cent (MIS 2015).
“Improvement in the uptake of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp) from13 per cent (NMIS 2010) to 19 per cent (NMIS 2015) by pregnant women who received at least two doses of SP has been documented.
“However, uptake of 19 per cent SP is relatively low if Nigeria must eliminate incidences of malaria in pregnancy and its adverse effects,’’ he said.
According to the NMEP boss, malaria is a problem that requires a multi-pronged approach and the belief is that the media is central to solving this challenge.
“It is for this reason we have invited you all as partners in the fight against malaria to interact together to build synergy to create the needed awareness.
“There is also the need for sensitisation of the populace, especially pregnant women on the importance of early Ante-Natal Care (ANC) attendance and uptake of the quality intervention (IPT) to prevent malaria in pregnancy
“ As such, it is necessary for the media to be equipped with adequate information as well as be aware of current policies, community mobilisation and partners’ involvement in malaria elimination,’’ he said.
Mrs Itohowo Uko, the Head of Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation in NMEP, said that Malaria in Pregnancy had grave consequences, especially as it accounted for 11 per cent of maternal deaths.
“Malaria in Pregnancy can occur with or without symptoms; it can cause anaemia, lead to miscarriages, still births, pre-term and low birth weight babies and in unfortunate situations, death.’’
Uko said: “ However, the NMEP has a Prevention of Malaria in Pregnancy (MIP) strategy.
“This strategy advocates using Focused Antenatal Care (ANC), IPTp, regular and appropriate use of Long Lasting Insectide Nets (LLINs) in addition to early diagnosis and prompt treatment of malaria in pregnant women.
“It is our belief, however, that the media need to be equipped with the right and correct information, particularly in health-related areas to be able to provide such information.’’
Also, Dr Tolu Arowolo of the WHO re-emphasied the importance of early Antenatal Care (ANC), saying that booking and administering of IPTp are critical in preventing malaria during pregnancy.
“IPTp is based on the assumption that every pregnant woman living in an area of high malaria transmission has malaria in her blood stream or placenta, whether or not she has symptoms of malaria.
“A pregnant woman is supposed to receive a minimum of three doses of SP before delivery.
“They should also sleep under LLINs because it is also an intervention against malaria,’’ she said.
Arowolo said that good nutrition was also critical during pregnancy as it helped to nourish the mother and foetus, as well as boost the immune system.
Dr Bartholomew Odio, a gynaecologist, urged people, especially pregnant women to always request for testing before the treatment of malaria fever.
Odio, who is the Malaria Technical Advisor with Jhpiego Nigeria, an affiliate organisation to John Hopkins University, U.S, advised them to always demand to know the drugs that were given to them.
Mr Timothy Obot, representing the Head, Monitoring and Evaluation in NMEP, said that there had been a lot of commendable strategies deployed to prevent, appropriately diagnosis and treat malaria.
He said that there were huge gaps in appropriate knowledge about the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, thereby necessitating the need to bridge the information gap.
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He urged the media to take the lead in providing investigated and researched evidence of the efficacy of recommended malaria prevention strategies.
Responding, Mrs Chioma Obinna, President, HEWAN, commended the NMEP for its strategic policies and activities toward the elimination of malaria in the country.
“It is important that NMEP is collaborating with the media in the fight to eliminate malaria because the media had the power to reach out to the masses.
“People depend on the media to give them information about what is happening in the society and we are obliged to give them timely and accurate messages too.
“With this collaboration, there will be smoother synergy in getting the right perspective and information on issues relating to malaria from the right sources for onward dissemination to Nigerians.
“HEWAN members through their different platforms, will also effectively communicate to pregnant women and healthcare givers the need to prevent or effectively manage malaria,’’ she said.
Also, Mr Sola Ogundipe, a seasoned health journalist applauded NMEP for the initiative.
He said that eliminating malaria in Nigeria, especially in pregnancy was achievable through commitment and collaboration with all stakeholders, as well as Nigerians themselves.
“There are different areas to be addressed when it comes to malaria and its elimination in the country.
“These challenges also have possible measures and solutions; given the right information the media will do their best to communicate these to the public.
“Deaths from malaria as well as deaths as a result of Malaria in Pregnancy can be reduced to the barest minimum and HEWAN will join in this cause,’’ Ogundipe said.