A non-governmental charitable organisation, Malaria Consortium, has cautioned residents in Nasarawa State against self-medication for malaria.
The State Programme Manager of Malaria Consortium, Dr Kassim Musa Khalid stated this after a road walk to commemorate World Malaria Day themed; “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must” in Lafia, the state capital.
Dr Khalid said; “self-medication is inappropriate, as wrong drugs might be used for another illness, which may cause harm to patients.”
“If you’re sick, the first thing to do is to visit the hospital and conduct a test to know what the actual problem is before taking medication,” he explained.
Dr Khalid further called on residents of the state to take action to reduce the burden of malaria by ensuring they keep their environment clean and by visiting the hospital before seeking treatment if they are ill.
He also urged residents of the state to allow their wards to receive the preventive malaria drugs being distributed during the rainy season to eligible children from three months to 59 months.
He said; “Once a child is sick, take him/her to the facility, because there will be a Malaria test kit and drugs for free. Also after giving your child the SMC drug, keep the cards safe, as they will be used at the end of the day as a category for the collection of mosquito nets across the state.”
Also speaking, the Nasarawa State Malaria Programme Manager, Hajia Izzatu Yakubu Akwe explained the significance of preventing malaria in the state.
Hajia Akwe said that “pregnant women are the most vulnerable when it comes to malaria; as such, preventive measures need to be taken seriously for the safety of both the mother and the unborn child.”
“We should ensure that our environment and surroundings are clean and free of stagnant waters that are breeding grounds for mosquitoes, that is the way out,” She noted.