August 23, 2021
By Mohamed Jalloh
Dr. Amara Jambai, the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation 2 made a stunning revelation that 70 % of Sierra Leoneans don’t make it beyond the age of 75 years due to the endemic prevalence of malaria that is killing people in the country.
Dr Jambai made the disclosure during the World mosquito day press briefing on the 20th August 2021 at the ministry`s conference room at Youyi building, Freetown.
He said that the life expectancy of Sierra Leoneans is pegged at 58 years and that 23 % of the cause of death among Sierra Leoneans are Malaria related, as according to him if one reduces the cause of death for Malaria people get additional 10 years to live.
The minister noted that even though the death of malaria among under-five’s is high, he went further to note that malaria normally takes a geo curve as the disease can also kill adults in large numbers.
“We must fight the Mosquito because it is killing our people and it is not good for development and nation building,” the Deputy Minister averred.
He made emphasis for people to adopt prevention mechanisms such as sleeping under treated mosquito nets and the cleaning of surroundings in communities so as to avoid a vector density.
Dr. Jambai said one of the reasons for the awareness rising on world mosquito day is to solicit support from government and development partners to tackle the devastating effect caused by the mosquito.
He added that adopting a multi stakeholder partnership approach is key in defeating the mosquito because it is debarring progress and is responsible for people not having a healthy work life.
Dr. Ramlat Jose, the PMI and malaria resident advisor said Malaria remains the biggest threat to Sierra Leonean infants, young children and pregnant women who are the most vulnerable categories of people.
“Eliminating mosquitoes in our homes and communities is the first step in our success to wining the fight against malaria”, Dr. Jose noted
She continued that through critical interventions by US AID about 700,000 people have been protected from Mosquito bites through the distribution of bed nets, the constructions of health centers and the spraying of wards with insecticides.
“We are looking forward to a more fruitful collaboration between the United States government and the government of Sierra Leone to eradicate malaria in both rural and urban areas in Sierra Leone,” Dr Jose concluded.