Leadership (Abuja)
6 May 2008
editorial
Statistics relating to malaria never cease to amaze the world. During the celebration of this year's World Malaria Day, the data were no less astounding: Malaria kills two million people each year; 90 per cent of the deaths occur in Africa. One in 10 pregnant women dies from malaria. Closer home, the disease affects about 110 million (out of 140 million) Nigerians who spend more than N800 billion for its treatment each year. Upwards of one million Nigerian children die before their fifth birthday every year, usually because of malaria.
What these figures indicate is that malaria still kills more people than HIV/AIDS or any other killer disease. Yet, this is a disease that can be eradicated by eradicating mosquitoes. African scientists are said to have been working to develop a malaria vaccine. WHO consultant Daniel Ansong has expressed optimism that "a safe and effective malaria vaccine" is around the corner. Vaccines may have helped in the prevention of polio, tuberculosis, and tetanus, but, in the case of malaria, it would have been better and cheaper to kill mosquitoes than seek malaria vaccines.
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