The Commissioner for Health and Human Service, in Benue state, Dr.Joseph Ngbea, has cautioned the Benue public to desist from indiscriminate taking of malaria drugs without going for malaria test.
The Commissioner gave the warning while briefing journalists in his office in Makurdi, on Friday, ahead of the year 2022 World Malaria Day which comes up every 25th of April, 2022.
Dr Ngbea encouraged Benue citizens to say no to Malaria treatment without Malaria test when they suspect any fever condition in their body.
He further urged them not to use any other drug for the treatment of Malaria that is not Artemisinin Based Combination Therapy, A.C.T, adding the A.C.T drug must be taken according to health workers advice.
Dr. Ngbea called on the Benue people to adopt a more preventable lifestyle by ensuring that they live in a clean environment, free from stagnant water and to use mosquito treated nets in order to stay healthy and free from the parasite.
According to him, the 2018 National Demographic Health Survey, NDHS, reveals that Benue state has a prevalence rate of 13.4 percent, which puts the state population at risk of malaria infection.
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He said the same report states that Nigeria is the highest contributor to the number of malaria cases with one-fourth, 25%, of total global malaria cases and is also the country with highest number of deaths from Malaria diseases, 19% approximately one-fifth of all global deaths due to malaria.
The health commissioner said the State government in collaboration with USAID is supporting 433 public facilities including all the 23 General Hospitals with free Malaria Commodities including test kits for rapid testing with malaria diagnosis and treatment to commence soon in some communities through the Integrated Community Case Management of Childhood illnesses, ICCM, intervention.
He further said most Nigerians who go to hospital/clinic for care, 60% of cases in Out Patient Department, OPD, go there because of malaria disease including pregnant women and children.
Describing as apt, the theme for this year’s celebration, “Advance Equity, Build Resilience, End Malaria” with the slogan: “Every Effort Counts”, the Commissioner noted that Malaria is treatable and preventable.
He advised everyone in the state to help kick out malaria just as he urged those sick with fever to approach the state health facilities for the treatment of malaria.
