Commissioner: How Anambra achieved second lowest ranking in malaria prevalence

Afam Obidike, commissioner for health in Anambra, says the state ranks second lowest in malaria prevalence in the country.

Obidike spoke on Saturday in an interview with NAN on the impact of the health interventions by Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.

The commissioner said Lagos recorded the lowest malaria prevalence with three percent, followed by Anambra with five percent.

He said a report from the District Health Information System of 2023 showed a decline in under-five malaria-related deaths in Anambra.

Obidike said Anambra recorded 4.6 percent of under-five mortality caused by malaria in 2020, 4.4 percent in 2021, 3.5 percent in 2022 and 0.96 percent in 2023.

“Anambra state was able to achieve the reduction in malaria prevalence with desilting of drains across the state and the distribution of 3.8 million mosquito nets in partnership with Malaria Consortium,” Obidike said.

“The rate of net use has increased in Anambra from 27 percent to 57 percent which is above the national average of 37 percent.

“In the free antenatal care scheme introduced by the state government, pregnant women are given the sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine drug to treat malaria in pregnancy.

“Our goal is to make Anambra the lowest state with malaria prevalence in Nigeria and we are working tirelessly to achieve that.”