Dr Babatunde Ogunfeyimi, the Chief Medical Director, Ondo State Specialist Hospital,
Okitipupa, has called for more attention to malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment to reduce the scourge.
He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Okitipupa, Ondo, in commemoration
of the 2022 World Malaria Day (WMD).
theme.
The chief medical director, who advised Nigerians to seek prompt medical attention, listed symptoms to include pain in the muscles or abdomen, fever, chills, fatigue, malaise, shivering, or sweating, vomiting and headache.
He urged medical practitioners not to ignore malaria cases in favour of other ailments such as Coronavirus, HIV, Lassa Fever or diarrhoea.
Ogunfeyimi described malaria as deadlier than other diseases and called for war against mosquitoes, being the carriers and transmitters
of the malaria parasite.
He said mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, dirty and unclean environment, which makes it possible to transmit malaria, especially during
rainy season.
He said “Nigerians must wage war against mosquitoes by imbibing cleaner environment, put away dirt, stagnant water and always sleep
under treated nets.
“Government is trying its best by giving treated nets to residents, but most people use it for something else.
“Many people do not take measures to prevent malaria, but I can tell you that malaria is deadlier than many other diseases.
“Anyone with symptoms of malaria should go to government medical facilities for test because the test is free for children and pregnant
women.”
He advised government to increase public enlightenment and distribute more mosquito treated nets to residents to reduce the
malaria casualties.
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NAN reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated 241 million cases worldwide and put estimated number of deaths recorded at 627,000 in 2020. (NAN)