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Dr Abdullahi Gida, representative of Bauchi State Commissioner of Health at the briefing
By Akanji Olowolodu, Bauchi
Malaria has been described as a disease that is one of the major African problems with 90% of burden, despite the fact that it is a Disease that is Treatable, Curable, Controllable and Preventable; but still many communities have a low level of knowledge on its management and prevention particularly in Africa where the disease is endemic.
The assertion was made by the Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sabiu Abdu Gwalabe while addressing Journalists to commemorate 2023 World Malaria Day on Tuesday at the Ningi Town Maternity PHC.
According to him, “The Day was an avenue to review the successes as well as challenges recorded in the elimination of Malaria and to foster appropriate solutions as well as commitment by Leaders and donors.”
He said that the World Health Organization (WHO) during the 2007 World Health Assembly set aside 25th April of each year as the World Malaria Day.
According to him,”This declaration followed the declaration of the same day as African Malaria Day by the Head of States and Governments and other Stakeholders during the African Union Meeting on Malaria in Abuja in the Year, 2000.”
The Commissioner said that the theme of the 2023 World Malaria Day is “Time to deliver Zero- Malaria”, stating that, “In this regard, BACATMA as an Agency mandated with the responsibility of overseeing and coordinating Malaria response in the State, is happy to join the rest of the world in commemorating this day by releasing this press statement on behalf of Bauchi State Government Health MDAS and Federal Health MDAS working in Bauchi State, International Donor and Implementing Organizations, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Traditional and Religious Institutions as well as members of different communities working in the fight against Malaria in Bauchi State.”
According to him,”We are marking this Year’s Commemoration with some series of activities which includes but not limited to: Medical out-reach at Ningi LGA; Live media phone-in Health Talks, etc.
He stated that the Bauchi State Malaria Elimination Program at BACATMA is funded by Bauchi State Government and Local Governments, Federal Government (through the Federal Ministry of Health, National Malaria Elimination Program) and International Donors and Implementing Organizations namely; US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) with funding through United States Agency for International Development (USAID)- Global Health Supply Chain Project, IHP and BA-N. Likewise, MC is funding the SMC the World Bank assisted Saving One Million Lives (SOML) Project.
He further explained that in 2022, there were an estimated 300 Million cases of Malaria in 91 countries saying that the global Malaria deaths have reached 619, 000 in 2021 while in Africa, Malaria account for 95% of the World cases of Malaria and 96% of Malaria deaths.
According to the Commissioner, Nigeria account for 31.3% of the global Malaria burden while according to NMIS, in 2021, children U-5 account for 27% of all cases just as about 97 million cases of malaria, with over 300,000 deaths in which children accounts for about 80%.
He pointed out that in Bauchi State, the Malaria prevalence in children under five of age is 32% according to NMIS, 2021.
He then explained that Malaria is a disease caused by a protozoan called Plasmodium, transmitted from one infected human to another non-infected by an infected female Anopheles Mosquito.
“It commonly affects children under five years of age. Pregnant Mothers, Sicklers and people coming from non endemic Countries. The disease can be divided into two; based on the severity; uncomplicated and severe Malaria cases,” he said.
Sabiu Abdu Gwalabe stressed that uncomplicated Malaria has no life threatening manifestations while the features include; fever, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, loss of appetite
He however warned that Severe Malaria has life threatening manifestations. In addition to the above mentioned, other features include; confusion, convulsions, loss of consciousness, lack of blood, yellow discoloration of eyes, bleeding etc.
The Commissioner added that, in addition to the clinical features, the disease is confirmed by either Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) or Microscopy on looking for the parasites in blood smear stressing that the treatment is with Artemisinin Based Combination Therapy (ACT).
He also said that Malaria can be prevented through health education, early diagnosis and treatment, use of Long Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLINS), intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) for Pregnant Mothers, Environmental Management which includes Indoor Residual Spray (IRS), Outdoor Spray of Mosquito and other measures.
He then said that the focus of the National and State Malaria elimination program focuses on;-improvement in Case Management and diagnosis; Promotion of Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) for Pregnant Women and Integrated Vector Management (ITNS, IRS, Larvae source in Management and Environmental Management; Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization; Conduct of Operational Research and Fostering united and dynamic partnership.
According to him, the achievement of the State Malaria Elimination Program in the Years, 2022-2023 included the distribution of about 2 Million Doses of ACT antimalarial drugs through over 500 public Health Facilities as DRF. diagnosis free of charge and distribution of about 3 Million RDT kits for Malaria to over 500 public Health Facilities; Training of 82 Health Care Providers on Management of Malaria in Pregnancy.
The State also achieved Training of 621 Corps on community distribution of LLINS; Training of 700 Healthcare Providers Malaria commodities Logistic System; Training of 702 Healthcare workers on Case Management of Malaria; Training of 659 Health Care Providers on Integrated Vector Management; Training of 659 Health Care Providers on Routine Distribution of LLINS in Health Facilities and Training of over 20 Laboratory Scientists (WHO Certified) on Malaria
Microscopy.
Also, Establishment of External Quality Assurance Centre at Bauchi Specialist
Hospital and The introduction of SMC which commenced since 2020 in the State, it is targeting over two million children this year.
“It is gratifying to know that Bauchi State had emerged as the best ever Implementing State in 2022 exercise with over 99% scoring. 12. We are about to commence the mass distribution of 4.4 Million ITNs in Bauchi State,” he stressed.
The Commissioner however said that the Challenges of the Program includes: Inadequate Malaria Commodities: Use of Chloroquine and SP for Malaria Treatment by PMVs and some Health Facilities.
Other challenges are Poor awareness among Prevention communities on Malaria Management and Data Challenges as well as Poor Environmental Sanitation and Dwindling Financial Resources from Governmental and Implementing Partners coupled with Resistance to ACTS and Insecticides.
He then commended theState Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for the tremendous support he has been giving to BACATMA and the Health Sector in General as well as Hajiya A’isha Bala Mohammed, Chairperson, BACATMA ACSM Committee for her immense and valuable support for the Agency.
“We also say thank you to our international Donor and Implementing Partners such as USAID Funded Projects (PMI, GHSC-PSM, IHP AND BA-N) and MC. Similarly, WHO, UNICEF, Civil Society Organizations, Media, Traditional and Religious Institutions and good people of Bauchi State for all the support and cooperation in the fight against Malaria,” he concluded.
