Enugu Govt launches free Malaria treatment to curb rising cases

The Enugu State Government has launched a free malaria treatment initiative to tackle the rising cases in the state.

According to media sources, the programme is led by the Ministry of Health with support from NMEP, ECEWS, and the Islamic Development Bank.

Speaking at the launch, Health Commissioner Dr Emmanuel Obi said the last malaria intervention in Enugu was in 2014 and 2015.

He announced that all healthcare facilities now have free malaria test kits and drugs for residents at no cost.

Dr Obi commended Governor Peter Mbah for supporting the project and emphasized environmental management in malaria control.

Dr Nnenna Ogbulafor, National Coordinator of Malaria Elimination Programme, said Nigeria contributes 27% of global cases and 30% of deaths.

She revealed that Enugu’s malaria prevalence is 24% and urged residents to use the free treatment services.

Permanent Secretary Dr Chinwe Anibeze highlighted the impact of the IMPACTS Project in malaria control across the state.

Represented by Dr Uchechukwu Okenwa, she announced the distribution of treated mosquito nets to reduce mosquito breeding.

ECEWS CEO Dr Andy Eyo assured continued support for malaria testing and treatment through the two-year intervention programme.

He also appreciated the Ministry of Health for its collaboration in fighting malaria in Enugu.

Traditional Rulers Council Chairman, Igwe Samuel Asadu, promised to sensitize rural communities on free malaria treatment.

Dr Ifeoma Otiji, State Malaria Elimination Programme Coordinator, said the initiative marks a new era in malaria control.

She noted that malaria prevalence in Enugu rose from 10.5% in 2015 to 24% in 2022.

The state aims to reduce it to the pre-elimination stage in line with national malaria control strategies.

Meanwhile, Malaria remains a significant global health threat, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2023.

The WHO African Region accounted for 94% of cases and 95% of deaths.

Malaria cases have increased over the past few years, with 2022 seeing 249 million new cases, up from 244 million in 2021.

The WHO attributes this rise to various factors, including climate change, conflict, and humanitarian crises, which have disrupted malaria control efforts.

Despite these challenges, there have been significant advancements in malaria control.

The WHO claimed it has reported that an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria and 12.7 million deaths have been averted since 2000.

Additionally, 14 countries have been certified malaria-free by the WHO since 2015.

The RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine has been recommended by the WHO for use in children living in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission.

A second malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, has also been recommended by the WHO.

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