Lagos Health District IV marks World Malaria Day, highlights threats pose by disease

Lagos Health District IV has highlighted the threats posed to the society by malaria disease even as it called for urgent actions to put an end to the deadly disease in the country.

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The call which is made by the Permanent Secretary of the District, Dr. Abimbola Bowale is contained in a press release made public by Oputeh Michael, Public Affairs Officer of the District..

This world Malaria Day , Dr. Abimbola Bowale, Permanent Secretary Lagos State Health District IV aligns himself with the Global theme.Driven to end malaria.

Speaking on Plasmodium infection, he said malaria was a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by the bite of inflected mosquitoes.

He said, “The cruelty of malaria is based on the sorts of Plasmodium. The malaria parasites are very common in Africa, and the most affected due to a combination of factors. A very efficient mosquito is responsible for high transmission. The largest parasite species is the Plasmodium which is the sort that is most likely to cause severe malaria and death.

“Malaria is also common in many African countries due to the poverty rate in many countries which has led to intensification in unsanitary living adding to the outbreak of the disease. Malaria in most African countries is endemic and stands as a life threatening condition.

“People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills and flu-ike illness. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, illness and death from malaria can usually be prevented.

In the United States.

“The outbreak of locally transmitted cases have been small and relatively isolated, but the potential risk for the disease’s to re-emerge is present due to the abundance of competent vectors, especially in the southern states.

“Malaria poses a threat to nearly half of the world’s population, and recent literature in the United States is lacking regarding understanding risk to local outbreaks.

“In the Lagos State public health facilities malaria accounts for more than seventy percent of outpatient, more than seven hundred thousand malaria cases are recounted annually, while thousands of patients with malaria were seen in both private and government health facilities..

“Malaria is a serious disease that spreads when you’re bitten by a mosquito inflicted by tiny parasites. When it bites, the mosquito injects malaria parasites into your bloodstream. Malaria is caused by the parasites, not by a virus or by a type of bacterium.

If malaria is not treated it can cause severe health problems such as seizures, brain damage, trouble breathing and death.

“This is common in tropical areas, where it is hot and humid. Malaria transpires all over the world and occurs most often in developing countries and areas with warm temperatures and high moisture.

Also speaking, the Director, Medical Service and Disease Control, Lagos State Health District IV, Dr. Sotunde Oludolapo, insisted that malaria is preventable and treatable, if sleep inside an insecticide treated net and keep a clean environment to prevent mosquito breeds, adding tha pregnant women should attend ANC and receive IPTP.