Today, on World Malaria Day, we should be celebrating those remarkable achievements in the battle against one of the world’s biggest killers. But sadly, we are still far from eliminating malaria. Last year, there were 246 million new malaria cases and more than 800 000 deaths. Nearly 9 in 10 cases were in Africa.
Malaria is a formidable opponent, so there is no guarantee that progress will continue, if we lower our guard. Experience shows that the disease may come back. Mosquitoes develop resistance to insecticides and malaria parasites can become resistant to medicines.
I commend the World Health Assembly for setting ambitious goals for 2030: reducing malaria cases and mortality by at least 90 per cent; and eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries.
Reaching these goals will require significantly greater investment in fighting malaria. But it will take more than money. It will take political will and leadership.
Malaria deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa could double this year, to more than 750,000 due to the coronavirus pandemic according to World Health Organizations.
Let’s come together to eradicate the scourge of malaria in Nigeria and Africa by partnering with key stakeholders to provide vaccine, fumigation of the entire country and environmental sanitation so that mosquitoes (the carrier of malaria parasites) will not have a breeding space.
On World Malaria Day, as we celebrate our progress against this ancient killer, I call on everyone involved to redouble our efforts to reach the 2030 malaria goals.
A better Edo, free of Malaria can be possible !
Signed by :
Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi
