April 26, 2021
By Mohamed M. Sesay
In a commemoration of World Malaria Day on the theme “zero malaria draw the line against malaria”, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation through the support of the government and development partners, yesterday recommitted to eradicating malaria as long as people are in adherence of the preventive measures such as sleeping under treated bed net, regular diagnosis and proper sanitation activities in communities prone to mosquitos.
Briefing journalists at the Deputy Ministry of Health and Sanitation’s Conference Hall, the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Augustine Anthony Sandi observed that it is no longer a secret that malaria as a disease is very endemic in this country. He affirmed that the entire country population is at risk, adding that malaria is one of the country’s leading causes of death. He therefore, encouraged that eliminating malaria in the country needs a robust and concerted effort.
Dr. Sandi commended development partners and also the government of Sierra Leone for their staunch support towards the fight against malaria in the country. He however noted that the commitment of Government and that of international partners cannot really eradicate malaria in the country without the unwavering support of community stakeholders.
“I remember a couple of years ago, we used to go to certain communities and our villages and see people using mosquito nets as fishing nets. Using mosquito nets as backyard garden nets. But now thanks to God the trend is gradually changing. We all know that the people most affected by malaria are pregnant women and children under the age of five years. So there is no way we can easily wave out the seriousness the diseases itself”, he lamented.
Dr. Sandi further indicated that malaria contributes close to an estimated 20% of child mortality adding that malaria is also one of the diseases that causes the high hospital concentration rate in the country. He also gave a glad tidings that earlier diagnosis and treatment of malaria will help mitigate the transmission of the diseases. He encouraged all and sundry to visit the nearest health center the moment they start feeling head ache and fever for diagnostic testing and treatment.
Dr. Sandi also encouraged people to take sanitation exercise very seriously alluding to it as one of the preventive measures of malaria. He referenced that the reintroduction of the Monthly cleaning exercise by President Bio was a very laudable initiative in terms of addressing sanitation issues. He noted that the only impediment to the Monthly cleaning activity is the Covid-19 and therefore, assured that no sooner the covid-19 is eliminated, than government will again intensify the vim and vigor of the monthly cleaning activity.
In her presentation, the Principal Public Health Sister for the National Malaria Control Programme Sister Wani K. Lahai also disclosed that they have distributed 4.6 million of treated mosquito bed nets nationwide but however said that the utilization of the bed nets has been very appalling.
She therefore reemphasized the need for the regular use of bed net with a percent of at least 80%. She added that every pregnancy is at risk because she said, malaria can lead to abortion, anaemia, death, miscarriage, still birth, low birth weight babies, premature delivery etc. she encouraged women especially pregnant women to seek early antenatal care in order to prevent complications of malaria. She concluded by assuring that suffadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) tablets is given free as IPTP starting at 13 weeks when pregnant. She reaffirmed that malaria can be treated with effective Antimalarials medicines both at health facility and community especially when fever, headache, vomiting, joint pains, loses of appetite are experienced.