Malaria prevalence to ‘reduce from 23 to zero percent’

The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) says it is working towards ensuring that malaria becomes a thing of the past in Nigeria.

This, it said, would be achieved through action and review of advocacy communication and social mobilisation guidelines (ACSM).

Temitope Ogunbi, technical adviser, malaria, Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BAN), shared the plan with NAN on Monday, during the review meeting on ACSM in Akwanga, Nasarawa state.

Ogunbi said the guidelines are in a document that gives details of the planning, coordination, and implementation of ACSM activities, adding that the federal government is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to eradicate malaria as the prevalence has currently reduced from 27 to 23 percent.

The technical advisor noted that the guidelines are currently under revision to accommodate the necessary changes required to take malaria to a zero level, and implored Nigerians to adopt the artemisinin-based combination treatments (ACT).

”We have used strategies to fight malaria and they include sustained public service announcements, focusing on what individuals and groups can do to eliminate malaria,” the technical advisor said.

“The strategies also include sleeping inside long-lasting insecticidal treated nets, indoor residual spraying, larval sources management, ACT, among other methods.”