Recent statistics
have shown that a child under five years of age dies every 30 minutes
in Nigeria from malaria-related diseases. This translates to about
300,000 deaths annually, an official of Society for Family Health,
Magdalene Okolo said yesterday in Benin City.
Mrs Okolo, who
spoke at a Malaria Day event, further revealed that 63 percent of all
hospital attendance in Nigeria and 70 percent of illnesses in
five-year-olds are due to malaria, which she said also leads to school
absenteeism.
“The Society for
Family Health is committed to kicking malaria out of Edo State in
particular and Nigeria in general,” she said, and called on Nigerians
to join in the fight to eradicate malaria. “The battle against malaria
is a collective one, and all hands must be on deck. We cannot afford to
fail in the fight against this killer of our future generation and
dream.”
Absent workers and children
The Edo State
commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Victor
Enoghama, said there are over 110 million clinically diagnosed cases of
malaria in Nigeria, out of which 300,000 children die every year.
“Malaria is a leading cause of absenteeism in the work place and schools,” he said.
However, Mr
Enoghama blamed the scourge of malaria on poverty. He said the disease
is responsible for the diversion of resources that could have otherwise
been used for family upkeep and education, towards the purchase of
drugs for the treatment of recurrent malaria attacks.
The official restated the commitment of the state governor, Adams
Oshiomhole, to the eradication of malaria in Edo State. “This is why
malaria treatment is free for pregnant women and children under five
years in all government hospitals in the state,” he said.
