Malaria Control in Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria is responsible for about 500 million cases and one million deaths each year. In Nigeria, it is highly endemic \rparticularly affecting young children and pregnant mothers. Almost all the reported cases are caused by \rP. falciparum \rbut most are unconfirmed. The National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) distributed about 17 million ITNs during \r2005-2007, enough to cover only 23% of the population. Also, 4.5 million courses of ACT was delivered in 2006 and \r9 million in 2007, far below total requirements. In April 2000, the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Initiative was launched \rin Abuja with the aim of reducing halving the morbidity and mortality of malaria in Nigeria by end of 2005 through \rcase management, promotion of Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT), and promotion of the use of ITNs/vector \rmanagement. Furthermore, one of the problems encountered in malaria control is the issue of drug resistance of \rChloroquine, and subsequently Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) which are affordable and easy to administer. Most \rtreatments are also self administered. Development of effective malaria vaccine will certainly bring about decline of \rmalaria cases in the country and elsewhere. Mosquitocidal fungiciding, proper delivery and use of ITNs and ACTs, \rand malaria sensitization campaigns in the rural – endemic areas will help in the effective control of malaria in Nigeria