Lagos — NO fewer than one million persons die annually from malaria in Africa and over 300 thousand from Nigeria in particular according to the 2006 World Malaria report released recently by the World Health Organisation (WHO)."At present, malaria remains the key infectious disease that takes more lives of persons especially children in Africa than any other ailment even HIV/AIDS," the report stated.

Collaborating the WHO report, the Centre for Communication Programmes Nigeria (CCPN), a non-governmental organization ,weekend in Lagos told health reporters that halting and reversing the high incidence of malaria in Nigeria is the key goal of Roll Back Malaria project is being hindered by lack of adequate funds.

The chairman/project Director of CCPN, Dr. Afolabi Bamgboye noted that pregnant women and children are mostly those very vulnerable to malaria attack because of their reduced immune system.

He explained that the use of Arlemisin Combination Therapy (ACTs) as first line treatment drugs for malaria as recommended by WHO will go a long way in reducing the incidence of malaria in Nigeria.

He commended the federal government for taking the major step recorded in the fight against malaria by the change in policy from using Chloroquine drugs to ACTs.

He however added that apart from the usage of ACTs, other steps are equally important such as the use of insecticide treated nets to prevent malaria and also keeping the surroundings and gutters free of stagnant dirty water which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Moreover speaking at the occasion, the National Malaria Programme Co-ordinator, Dr. (Mrs.) Titilope Sofola stated that the federal government has distributed 2.5 million doeses of ACTs free of charge to pregnant women and children aged under 5 years.

Sofola added that more batches of ACTs (Coarten drug) were being expected for distribution to other remaining states of the federation. She pledged government's continuous commitment towards halting the burden of malaria by the year 2010 in the country.

And this is where we need your assistance and support, you media persons. "We need to educate all the populace with relevant information to empower them to do the right thing at the outset of malaria episodes. We must educate everyone on the rational use of these ACTs so as to check right from the outset, abuse of drugs which ultimately leads to parasite resistance to drugs" Sofola pointed out.

The National Malaria Coordinator disclosed the five ACTs combination as approved by WHO and federal government as:

1. Artemether+ amodiaquine
2. Artesunate + Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine
3. Artesunate+ Lumenfantrine
4. Artesunate + Mefloquine and
5. Amodiaquine +Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine.

She added that the federal government is making plans to train all health workers in the country to support the new malaria policy.