Reuben Buhari
17 November 2008
Lagos — In view of the over 1.7 million children and pregnant women constantly at risk of malaria infection in Kaduna State, the government has set for itself a target of totally eradicating the disease by 2015 by offering free treatment and attacking the disease through clean environment.
With about 60 per cent of all hospitals visit by patients in Kaduna State as a direct result of malaria related infection, the state government has resolved to totally eradicate it by 2015 and has consequently declared a total War Against Malaria, which means that about 1.3 million children and pregnant women in the state, constantly at risk of being infected by the disease would be freed.
Conscious of the vital link between malaria and the environment, the state government has simultaneously launched the offensive against the disease by also embarking on cleaning its entire environment, especially malaria prone areas, to which it has procured Waste Management Equipments worth N240 million and budgeted N78 million, which will be spent monthly on the environment.
The State's Commissioner for Health, Dr. Everton Peter and his colleague, the Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr Yusuf Bature are the saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that Kaduna State no longer regard malaria as a major cause of mortality that has wrecked havoc on the state, the country and the African continent, where the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that a child dies every 30 seconds.
According to Dr. Peter who spoke to THISDAY in his office a day to the formal launch of the war at the Kaduna Township Stadium, said that with about 1.7 million people in Kaduna State constantly at risk of malaria infection, the state government has earmarked one billion as start-up fund for the war on malaria, which also include free medical treatment for all malaria patient in state-owned hospitals. He added that drugs worth about N71 million have already been procured with more to come as the fight progresses.
While explaining that 126,479 cases of malaria were officially recorded by the state in 2007, Peter added that 1,615 personnel have been trained from each ward in the state, while Roll Back Malaria (RBN) managers from each of the state's 23 local governments have also been reoriented to make them more effective in the fight. He added that items procured by the state includes insecticides treated nets, chemical sprayers Diluents, Knap sack sprayers, anti-malaria drugs, and nasal mask, and all lined ministries, members of the State Malaria Control Committee, and all stakeholders in and outside the state have been mobilised to ensure a successful fight against the disease.
In describing the world and Nigerian's situation in relation to malaria, the commissioner said: "In Nigeria, malaria is responsible for 20 - 50 per cent hospital admission, 30 per cent of childhood mortality, 25 per cent of infant mortality and 11 per cent maternal deaths.
"About 40 per cent of the world's population, mostly those living in the poorest countries are at risk of malaria. Of these 2.5 billion people at risk, more than 500 million become severely ill with malaria every year and more than 1 million die from the effects of the disease.
"Malaria is especially a serious problem in Africa, where one in every five, 20 per cent childhood deaths is due to the effects of the disease. An African child has on average between 1.6 and 5.4 episodes of malaria fever each year. And every 30 second a child dies from malaria.
"Pregnant women are at high risk not only of dying from the complications of severe malaria, but also spontaneous abortion, premature delivery or stillbirth. Malaria is also a cause of severe maternal anemia and is responsible for about one third of preventable low birth weight babies. It contributes to the deaths of an estimated 10 000 pregnant women and up to
200 000 infants each year in Africa alone.
"Malaria causes an average loss of 1.3 per cent of annual economic growth in countries with intense transmission. It traps families and communities in a downward spiral of poverty, disproportionately affecting marginalised and poor people who cannot afford treatment or who have limited access to health care. Malaria has lifelong effects through increased poverty and impaired learning. It cuts attendance at schools and workplaces. However, it is preventable and curable," Peter said.
Governor Namadi Sambo who launched the struggle at the township stadium, alongside the supervising Minister of Health, Dr Hassan Lawal, and Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Chuka Odom, said the state would be spending about N1 billion every year till malaria is completely eradicated in the state, while about N240 million has also been spent on procurement of waste management equipment.
He added that "in order to attain the desired success in the war against malaria, we have developed a strategic plan with intervention that includes Integrated Malaria Vector Management, especially environmental control, procurement of anti-malaria drugs, insecticides, treated nets and straightening partnerships."
He then spoke about the need to have a hygienic and healthy environment as a way of keeping away mosquitoes by saying that indiscriminate disposal of solid waste at all available spaces without due regard to hygiene and sanitation accounts for spread of diseases. According to him, "our market and motor parks, including some residential areas present depressing sight and that mountain of refuse have become more or less permanent features of many towns and cities in Nigeria which has led to blockages of roads, drains and streams.
He said in order for Kaduna State to remedy the unhealthy situation, the state has gotten five compacting trucks, a heavy duty pay-loader, 300 metal dustbins and 390 garbage containers of various size, which he said is to "build capacity, enhance the efficient and effective solid waste management and to arrest the spread of diseases arising from poor waste management. In line with this intended proper management initiative, the State has outsourced the management of solid waste from house to dump sites to 33 solid waste contractors to last up to a given trial period and renewal will depend on their individual performance.
"I am happy to also let you know that Kaduna State is among the 15 cities chosen by the Federal Government for an Integrated Waste Management Facility (Waste to Wealth) programme. In preparation for this, the State Government has approved the procurement of additional waste management equipment. These ones displayed in the stadium are part of those that have arrived. Others are on their way before the year runs out," he said.
While promising to extend the fight against malaria and dirt to all parts of the state, Sambo said that "to arrest the indiscriminate defecation in any available space in the metropolis, we have awarded the construction of 12 public toilets with motorised boreholes at the total cost of N168, 014,110.00 at different locations within the Kaduna Metropolis. Approval has also been granted to all the local governments in the state to provide decent public toilet facilities in all their markets and other strategic."
Bature who spoke earlier at the launch said the solid waste management strategy of the state which should make it the cleanest city in no distance future and also help in the state's desire of eradicating malaria, is being executed in three ways. The house to house refuse evacuation and disposal is being carried out by 27 solid waste contactors covering about 50 per cent of the metropolis at a cost of N60.7 million per month.
Secondly, Bature said the state has contracted the evacuation and maintenance of 44 identified notorious dump sites that are within strategic areas of the metropolis to five contractors at cost of N9.3 million per month, and thirdly, seven major streets within the metropolis have been contracted out for cleaning, cutting of grasses, refuse evacuation and general maintenance on daily basis at a cost of N8.2 million monthly, while two designated landfills have been constructed and developed at the outskirt of the city for dumping and treatment of evacuated waste at a cost of N28 million.
With all these steps in place, the governor would also have to contend with certain challenges which include continuity of policy. This is because another governor might come in and decides to do something else. However, considering the fact that effort has been on for years to eradicate malaria in the world, especially in Africa, the Kaduna State government has an uphill task ahead of it.
It also has to commit a lot of time, resources and determination in ensuring that it cleans its environment and make them less conducive to mosquitoes. This is a tall task, but with determination, courage, strong will and cooperation of all in the state, the war may succeed.
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