A Review on the Exploration of Genomic Approaches to Malaria Prevention and Treatment in Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria poses a significant global health challenge, with nearly half a million deaths annually, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria alone accounts for over 24% of global cases, with severe impacts on children under five and pregnant women. Hence, this review explores the various genomic approaches being employed in the fight against malaria, including genomic surveillance of Plasmodium parasites, genetic modification of mosquito vectors, and host genomic studies for personalized medicine by harvesting information from Online sources and libraries. Information obtained reveals that Traditional control methods—such as insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and antimalarial drugs—face challenges like drug resistance and vector adaptation. Recent advances in genomic technologies offer promising new avenues for malaria prevention and treatment by providing insights into the biology of the parasite, mosquito vector, and human host.