By Kemi Olatunde

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In order to ensure the effective elimination of malaria and other contagious diseases in Ondo State, a 38-member subcommittee has been inaugurated.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, while speaking during the inauguration of the State Integrated Vector Management Subcommittee on Tuesday in Akure, stated that it was established to enhance service delivery to residents. He noted that the role of the members can only be achieved through collaboration.

While calling on them to make meaningful contributions, he said that the committee would also be useful for the control of other diseases in the state.

According to him, the impact of malaria is felt by all, especially children under five and pregnant women, noting that everyone must play their role effectively to rid the state of the disease.

“We are here for the purpose of integrated vector management, which is an approach to eliminate malaria in the state. The different stages of mosquitoes’ life cycle can be targeted. With a clean environment, mosquitoes will not have breeding spaces. There is a need for proper drainage construction to encourage the free flow of water and discourage mosquito breeding.”

He called on all stakeholders to collaborate in reducing the prevalence of mosquitoes and malaria in the state, adding that “the burden of malaria will be reduced through collaboration, and this will promote a healthier state.”

In her welcome address, Deputy Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Gbadebo Aina, stated that the subcommittee is aimed at addressing malaria, with emphasis on children under five and pregnant women.

In his goodwill message, the State Programme Manager of Malaria Consortium, Mr. Abiola Oluwagbemiga, commended the event, which he described as an intersectoral approach, and thanked the state government for its intentional efforts in preventing malaria transmission.

The Project Manager of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Akingbesote, said that the subcommittee would support the organisation’s efforts toward malaria elimination both in the state and nationwide.

Giving an overview of malaria, the Project Coordinator of the IMPACT Project, Dr. Waheed Afolayan, described malaria as an infectious disease and noted that it accounts for 60 percent of hospital attendance. He added that a large reservoir of malaria parasites exists in asymptomatic individuals within endemic populations.

He explained that, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Malaria Report, there are 263 million global cases, with Africa accounting for 94 percent and Nigeria accounting for 25.9 percent.

He revealed that global malaria deaths total 597,000, with Africa accounting for 95 percent of those deaths, and Nigeria accounting for 30.9 percent of malaria-related deaths in Africa.

He also noted that Nigeria ranks 168th out of 174 countries on the Human Capital Development Index, with a score of 0.36, stating that malaria-related premature mortality can significantly affect child survival.

In Ondo State, Afolayan stated that the disease has a prevalence rate of 27 percent, with only 49 percent of children seeking treatment.

The Integrated Vector Management Officer, Mr. Adu Bosede, said that the subcommittee is expected to create a platform for a multisectoral and innovative approach to malaria vector control and management.

According to him, it must integrate human and capital resource commitments across relevant MDAs to support malaria vector control. He added that it would champion the management and regulation of multisectoral activities that contribute to mosquito breeding.

He called on all stakeholders to act swiftly for malaria elimination, citing threats of possible parasite and vector resistance to antimalarial drugs and insecticides.

A representative of the State Ministry of Works, Engr. Oladimeji Lukman, stressed the need for people to undergo testing before taking malaria drugs and called for the sensitisation of residents on malaria elimination efforts in the state.