The war against Malaria is still yet to be won in Nigeria even though there is a reduction in the incidence of the disease and to that end, an improvement on malaria interventions in the country is highly required.
This is according to Dr Suleiman Mudi Hamza, the Director of Medical Services of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board.
He says the environment is not clean enough yet, which is why malaria still thrives in the country, adding that the indiscriminate dumping of refuse further exacerbates the malaria situation in Nigeria.
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“If you check around Kano, especially in the markets, under the bridges, gutters and in neighborhoods you will still find heaps of dirt which the residents pile up and that attracts mosquitoes.
“Despite the efforts from the ministry of health and other development partners, the environment is not as clean as it should be.” He said.
Local herbs for malaria treatment, risky
The director discourages the use of herbs for the treatment of malaria, explaining that individuals with underlying health challenges could face further complications from the usage of unscientifically proven herbs for the treatment of malaria.
“Although there are some research going on regarding to the use of herbs to treat Malaria, I strongly discourage the use of local herbs that are not certified, to treat Malaria.” He reiterated.
Dr Suleiman advocates for more research to certify the efficacy of herbal form of treatment for malaria.
He further states that the shortage and out-of-stock prevalence of malaria drugs challenges the fight of malaria in Nigeria.
He noted that stakeholders in the health sector, as well as development partners, need to have a central coordination in the war against malaria, to ensure a speedy response to ameliorating malaria in the country.
