Introduction
Malaria is a serious tropical disease that is caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Although there has been a decline in the prevalence of malaria in the country, Nigeria still accounts for a high percentage of malaria cases globally. This data has necessitated the continuous campaign towards total eradication of malaria in Nigeria.
World Malaria Day is observed annually on 25 April, to bring global attention to the efforts being made to bring an end to malaria and encourage action to reduce suffering and death from the disease. AYGF commemorated the 2023 World Malaria Day in two rural communities in the FCT.
Objectives
The main goal of the project was to contribute to the reduction of malaria prevalence in rural communities in Abuja. Specific objectives include:
- To increase the knowledge of rural dwellers on malaria prevalence
- To offer malaria testing services to community members
- To provide treatment to those who tested positive to malaria.
ACTIVITIES
AYGF marked the 2023 World Malaria Day with the following activities:
- Road show in collaboration with NMEP and other development partners.
- Ministerial press briefing organized by NMEP in collaboration with other development partners
- Community outreach to 2 rural communities in the FCT. The communities include: Zhilu Village, AMAC, Abuja and Sa Lugbeyi Village, AMAC, Abuja.
Results
- 150 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets were distributed to pregnant women and mothers with children 0-23 months across the 2 communities
- Over 200 community members across the 2 communities received information on malaria: causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment.
- 175 community members across the 2 communities were tested for malaria
- Antimalaria treatment was offered to 41 community members who tested positive to malaria.
- Chemoprophylaxis was offered to 36 community members who tested negative but showed signs of fever.
The leaders of the 2 communities thanked AYGF for seleccting their communties as beneficiaries of this year’s WMD outreach and made commitments to ensure clean environments to reduce the prevalence of mosquito breeding sites that leads to malaria within the communities.
