ENUGU- Dr Uchechukwu Okenwa, the Director, Public Health and Disease Control, Enugu State Ministry of Health, has urged Nigerians to desist from consuming anti malaria drugs when having fever.
Okenwa gave the advice on Saturday during the inauguration of the Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) Core-Group for Malaria Elimination Programme (IMPACT) in Enugu.
Those inaugurated were representatives of National Orientation Agency, Academics, Media, Traditional Rulers, Ministries of Environment, Information, Justices, Health and Non Governmental organisations on malaria among others.
Okenwa, while inaugurating the representatives, noted that before now Nigerians used to take anti-malaria drugs like groundnut once they feel feverish without knowing if the fever is caused by pneumonia, stress or other things.
According to him, many Nigerians believe that every fever is malaria, making them to take anti malaria drugs to cure it.
“I want them to understand that not all fever is malaria. When you have fever, you should go for test and if it shows malaria, treat it.
“If it is negative, you look for other thing that is causing it which may not necessarily be malaria and that is what we are advocating for,” he said.
The director regretted even when most results showed negative, some health officers still went ahead to treat malaria.
He explained that testing had been designed in a way that it would not take days to get result, stressing that within 20 minutes, the result could be ready.
“It is about our commitment to make a behavioural changes towards malaria,” he stressed.
On the effort the state was making to eradicate malaria, Okenwa said that Gov. Peter Mbah had paid counterpart fund for malaria programme, adding that the state had trailer loads of malaria drugs in their stores waiting for distribution to Enugu people.
“We have also secured warehouses waiting for arrival of mosquito nets which will be distributed for Enugu residents,” he said.
Presenting what was expected from ACSM members, the Social Behaviour Change, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Abuja, Owoya Samuel, said that the members should ensure promotion of positive behaviour towards prevention and control of malaria at all levels.
She tasked them on advocacy, communication and social mobilisation to eliminate and tackle the issue of malaria in the state.
Speaking on the Malaria Indication Survey (MIS) in Enugu, Owoya said that the result showed that 25 per cent did not have access to mosquito net, 47 per cent had it but not using it, while 16 and 14 per cent said net was not need at night due to absence of mosquitos at night.
“Eight and 10 per cent said net is dirty and old respectfully while 38 per cent said they are not using net because of hot weather. Environment and nature may informed these decisions,” Samuel said.
Earlier, Dr Ifeoma Otiji, the Enugu State Malaria Programme Manager and Coordinator, said that the meeting was first of its kind on malaria in the state.
She reiterated the state’s commitment to improving and increasing malaria advocacy, communication by sensitising citizens of the state especially rural dwellers about the dangers of malaria.
According to her, for years, the state has malaria programmes but now wants to accelerate it.
“We brought everyone together here to start advocacy and communication coverage as well as bridging the gap by getting the communities know what is on ground and what they should do to create demand for malaria services,” Otiji said. (NAN)
