Malaria: Lagos state First lady calls for increased efforts on prevention

Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, wife of the Governor of Lagos State, on Wednesday urged Nigerians to be more concerned with preventing malaria rather than curing the disease.

Ambode gave the charge when her pet project, Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative (HOFOWEM), distributed over 3000 insecticide-treated nets at Makoko community, in Yaba area of the state.

The distribution was part of activities to mark the 2018 World Malaria Day with the theme “End Malaria for Good.”

“We cannot fold our arms and allow malaria to continue to ravage our society.

“This epidemic has claimed too many lives, whether in our country, Africa or the world in general.

“Thank God it is not a disease without prevention or cure, and since it has both, the easier way out is to prevent it,” she said.

Ambode said there was need to  scale down the ugly trend, by doing more to prevent, rather than chase after cure.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) tells us that more than 400,000 malaria deaths still occur annually, and at least one child dies of the infection every two minutes around the world; this is bad enough,” she said.

Ambode described as unacceptable, a situation where a child died every two minutes from malaria around the world, and an alarming global average of 400,000 deaths annually, according to WHO account.

She noted that efforts should be geared toward robust prevention of the scourge, with widespread use of nets, indoor spraying with insecticide and preventive treatment of expectant mothers.

The governor’s wife said the theme for this year was attainable, if governments, NGOs, stakeholders and individuals, worked together to combat the epidemic.

She specifically appealed for more investment in malaria prevention and greater funding for malaria control in endemic countries.

This, according to her, will aid the attainment of WHO’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria projection of 40 per cent reduction in cases and deaths by 2020.

Ambode said HOFOWEM, as a foundation, was concerned about the welfare and health of the family.

“The family cannot be productive if it is plagued with one of the fastest killers in medical history.

“This is why we are advocating for the use of treated insecticide nets, proper disposal of waste and a clean environment generally,” she said.

The governor’s wife expressed happiness at the gradual improvement in public awareness on malaria issues as indicated by people’s warm acceptance of the nets.

She, however, said that public education and enlightenment must go on, and the programme should be extended to other communities in the state.

Addressing the community members, the Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Mr Kayode Omiyale, thanked the foundation for celebrating 2018 World Malaria Day with the community.

Omiyale counseled the residents to ensure the insecticide distributed was used for the purpose for which it was given.

He appealed to them to ensure cleanliness of their environment at all times to avoid breeding mosquitoes, and to take personal and community hygiene as a priority.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of HOFOWEM, Mrs Olayinka Oyefunke, thanked Ambode for approving the purchase and mass distribution of the nets.

She said it was in line with HOFOWEM’s philosophy of touching people’s lives.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Ibraheem Aladetan, the traditional head of Ilaje-Makoko community, thanked Ambode for her care and promised that their homes and immediate surroundings would always be kept clean.

Aladetan said it was necessary to do so since mosquitoes breed more in a filthy environment, promising that the insecticide nets would be used for the purpose for which they was given.