Yesterday 25 April, 2016 was marked as World Malaria Day, with the theme; End Malaria For Good.

World Malaria Day, is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria. In 2012, malaria caused an estimated 627,000 deaths, mostly among African children.  Asia, Latin America, and to a lesser extent the Middle East and parts of Europe are also affected.

On World Malaria Day, the global efforts to fight and control malaria and the implemented actions to combat the disease are highlighted. The theme for 2016 is “End Malaria for good”. The theme reflects the vision of a malaria-free world set out in the “Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030” by the World Health Assembly in May 2015, which aims to dramatically lower the global malaria burden. The Strategy sets ambitious but achievable global targets, including, reducing global malaria case incidence and mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 78% of people who die from malaria are children under 5, mostly in sub-Sahara Africa. In 2015, there were 214 million cases, and 438 000 deaths from Malaria.   3.2 billion (almost half of the world population) are at risk. In 2015, 97 countries had on-going malaria transmission. The global malaria mortality rate was reduced by 60% in 2000 – 15, and an estimated 6.2 million lives were saved as a result of a scale-up of malaria interventions

Twenty-five per cent of the  627, 000 people, who die from malaria each year, are from Nigeria.

Therefore, malaria can be avoided by following some guidelines. Here’s how:

• Avoid mosquito bites and stay inside when it is dark outside, preferably in air-conditioned room
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, particularly from dusk to dawn
• Use bed nets while sleeping
• Use insect repellent – insect repellent with DEET can be used on skin. It is recommended to use a preparation containing less than 24% strength in young children.
• Sprays containing permethrin are safe to use on clothing
• Keep your surroundings clean by treating your home’s walls with insecticide that can help kill adult mosquitoes
• Take preventative anti-malarial drugs whilst traveling overseas, especially to malaria-prone countries.

If you can adhere to these few tips, i believe we can end malaria for good especially in Nigeria.

Credit: Tv360Nigeria.