To curb its scourge, citizens of Plateau State, North-central Nigeria, have been urged to seize the opportunity of the free distribution of over 2.9 million insecticide-treated nets to collect and use the nets appropriately to prevent falling sick of malaria and spending scarce resources on its treatment.
The Senior Program Officer, Media of Breakthrough Actions Nigeria, Mr. Eze Eze, appealed in Jos during a media parley with journalists where he called on the media practitioners to sensitize citizens on the need to collect and make use of the nets as intended so that the malaria prevalence rate of the State which stands at 19% could be reduced to the barest minimum.
He noted, “Malaria is a life-threatening disease, especially to children under five years old and pregnant women, spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries. It is preventable and curable. Mild symptoms are fever, chills, and headache. Severe symptoms include fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing.
“Malaria can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and with medicines. Treatments can stop mild cases from getting worse. Nigeria accounts for over 66 million malaria cases annually, and an estimated 30 per cent of child and 11 per cent of maternal deaths each year are due to malaria. Sleeping inside an Insecticide-Treated Net is one of the best ways to prevent malaria, as it forms a physical and chemical barrier against mosquitoes
