Lagos, Nigeria (CU)_ Nigeria reportedly has the highest prevalence of malaria in the world. According to the World Malaria Report for 2020, around 76% of Nigeria’s population belong to high transmission zones and are therefore at risk for malaria. Additionally, Nigeria accounted for 27 percent of global malaria cases and the largest number of malaria-related fatalities in 2019.
Clearline HMO, in collaboration with Greenlife Pharmaceuticals, has just started an anti-malaria awareness campaign to the citizens of Bariga Ilaje community in Lagos city. This initiative was taken to mitigate the effects of mosquito bites. Participants were provided with insecticide-treated nets, insecticides, and anti-malaria medications, and some of the contents of the awareness sessions focused on the most effective means of preventing malaria.
According to Clearline HMO’s GM, Stakeholders Management & Contact Center, Mrs. Chidinma Chigbo, as the neighborhood is surrounded by water, their team educated locals on how to prevent the transmission of malaria. Focusing on this year’s World Malaria Day theme, “Harness Innovation to Reduce the Malaria Disease Burden and Save Lives”, Chigbo emphasized the importance of malaria prevention in the fight against the disease.
According to the GM, stagnant water, ditches, and blocked drainages can act as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, particularly anopheles, which is the disease carrier. She added, “Ilaje Bariga is a riverine area and a suburb, so we are here to sensitize the inhabitants on what causes malaria and how to prevent it going forward.”
In the meantime, Dr. Wilfred Okolie, Area Manager of Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited, suggested treatment solutions for communities in Lagos State and Nigeria after noting that Nigeria has a higher incidence of malaria patients. Therefore, Okolie emphasized the importance of early malaria treatment. He said, “It goes a long way to prevent complications, especially in children. For us at Greenlife, we have contributed much to the fight against malaria through the provision of therapeutic options.”
Kayode Ayetua, the Baale of the village and high chief, praised Clearline’s initiative. He said, “Malaria is a disease in Nigeria and Africa. It is great to have Clearline come to assist us in the fight against the disease”. He added, “As the baale, I ensure I bought in this organization and other NGOs. We have been doing this for three years in the Ilaje Bariga community”.
