By Chioma Umeha
In an effort to curb the alarming rate of malaria
infection in the country, Fidson Healthcare Plc has called on all Nigerians to
embark on nationwide preventive actions against the menace of malaria.
The pharmaceutical company which made the call in
commemoration of this year’s World Malaria advised Nigerians to prevent malaria
infection through the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) and
indoor residual spraying (IRS).
The company said improved sanitation and avoidance
of stagnant water are also other veritable means of controlling malaria.
The company call is coming at the backdrop 2015
Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey reports on statistics credited to the National
Malaria Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, which estimated that
about 110 million clinically diagnosed cases of malaria and nearly 300,000
malaria-related childhood deaths occur each year.
It also indicated that in Nigeria, malaria is
responsible for approximately 60 percent of outpatient visits, 30 percent of
admissions, and also believed to contribute up to 11 per cent of maternal
mortality, 25 per cent of infant mortality, and 30 percent of under-5 mortality.
Fidson’s Product Manager, Antimalarial, Mr Adesoji
Fasanya, said this report is very alarming, as it shows that Nigeria has the
largest volume of malaria cases recorded in any single country globally.
Fasanya further said that a bigger concern is the
fact that malaria is preventable, but most people, especially those living in
rural or semi-urban areas of developing countries don’t even know how to
prevent them.
“This is why as a responsible indigenous
pharmaceutical company, we are actively participating in this global campaign
by enlightening Nigerians, through all possible communication channels, on how
they can prevent the spread of malaria”.
He further explained that Fidson’s primary
responsibility is to ensure the provision and distribution of high-quality
antimalarial drugs at affordable prices.
“We are aware that there is a direct link between
poverty and incidence of malaria. Therefore, the cost of therapy must be
affordable for patients to reduce the economic burden of malaria on them. This
is one major role that we play”, he said.
Fasanya added that the company also ensure
increased advocacy on behalf of the low-income earners.
“We are always talking about malaria prevention
and control as well as an increase in awareness of the disease. To that extent,
we partner with various stakeholders in the healthcare sector in this respect.
“We have sales representatives all over the
country who engage in talks with pregnant women, school children, the general
public.
“Malaria is a preventable disease. We therefore
need to stop losing lives to this disease. People need to be aware of how to
reduce the chances of a vector bite. That alone is a major step in combating
malaria”.
He, therefore, advised Nigerians to make
deliberate and preventive efforts by keeping their environment clean, removing
stagnant water from their environment, consistent use of long lasting
insecticide treated nets and proper diagnosis before treatment.
