A Consultant Parasitologist at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Wellington Oyibo, has stressed the need for the government to invest in malaria prevention interventions.
Oyibo, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Thursday said the malaria vaccine must be used alongside other interventions.
“Although some positive and valuable effects of the malaria vaccine has been recorded, the caveat is that it must be used alongside other interventions such as integrated vector management, effective case management, malaria prevention in pregnancy and seasonal malaria chemoprevention.
“What this means is that investment in these interventions must continue and government and all of us will have to keep making these interventions available.
“The vaccine prevented death in every four out of 10 children and this is important for us in a country where annual deaths to malaria is over 70,000 every year.
“Its effect on morbidity especially in the prevention of severe malaria anaemia in children gives the malaria vaccine additional value. Though the coverage rate may not have reached the desired level, its utility is appreciated in an inequitable world where other diseases appear to be more important than the others to receive the desired attention,” Oyibi said.
The expert urged Nigerians to make efforts in keeping the environment clean always.
“The environment has to be properly managed and everyone, including government, has a role to play. Materials such as empty cups, used tyres, uncleared bushes around the homes must be cleared regularly,” Oyibo added.
