Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by parasitic protozoans (a group of single-celled microorganisms) belonging to the Plasmodium type.
[1] Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, fatigue, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma, or death.
[2]Symptoms usually begin ten to fifteen days after being bitten. If not properly treated, people may have recurrences of the disease months later.
[3] In those who have recently survived an infection, reinfection usually causes milder symptoms. This partial resistance disappears over months to years if the person has no continuing exposure to malaria (Source: Wikipedia)
The disease is most commonly transmitted by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The mosquito bite introduces the parasites from the mosquito’s saliva into a person’s blood. The risk of disease can be reduced by preventing mosquito bites by using mosquito nets and insect repellents, or with mosquito-control measures such as spraying insecticides and draining standing water.
In 2015 an estimated 214 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide and 438,000 people died, mostly children in the African Region (Source: CDC). According to the Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Nigeria has more reported cases of malaria and deaths due to malaria than any other country in the world.
The Federal Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Program and other relevant partners are working to develop evidence-based malaria policy and programming to help reduce the burden of malaria in Nigeria.
The NOA, on its part will continue its malaria advocacy awareness to acquaint the general populace of the causes, the effects and prevention. With the NOA’s presence in all 774 LGAs in Nigeria, the Agency is well positioned to continue its enlightenment campaign in this regard to help government roll back malaria.