Nigeria Embarks on Inter Government Collaboration to Eliminate Mosquito

The Nigerian Government is working with state and local Governments on vectors control in order to attain its goal of mosquito elimination.

Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi stated this at a press briefing in commemoration of this year’s World Mosquito Day held in Abuja, the Nation’s capital.

“As a Ministry, we remain committed to our mandate of Disease Pest and Vector Management in Nigeria.

“To this end, we are entrenching sustainable programme focusing on eliminating and reducing breeding avenues for disease vectors which involves fostering collaboration with stakeholders including sub nationals, development partners; relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies, Civil Society, Community Leaders etc,” the Minister stated.

Strengthen Structures

He said the Ministry was working to strengthen its Administrative and technical structures in order to emplace a robust and comprehensive Vector Control Programme with special emphasis on Mosquito control.

“The strategies to be deployed would include Integrated Pest and Vector Management as outlined in the National Environmental Sanitation Policy, 2005. Our roles on Integrated Vector Management as identified in the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2014-2022 will be played expeditiously and as diligently as possible in order to deliver on our mandate,” he explained.

He noted that all interventions shall be based on the resolve of the President Muhammadu Buhari led Administration to ensure the protection of the health of Nigerians and in the spirit of ‘ONE HEALTH.

“Our resolve on this cause will no doubt be accomplished without the support and collaboration of the Private Sector to this end, we will continue to engage them meaningfully. Professional Associations are also key in this regard hence our strategic partnership with the Pest Control Association of Nigeria will remain afloat for the benefit of Nigerians. Additionally. Mosquito Control using professionally registered Companies by the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria is recommended for any intervention-seeking individual or organization,” Mr. Abdullahi said.

The Minister, however called on Local Government Environment Health Authorities to make adequate logistics provision for conduct of Environment Health Surveillance of the Premises to identify mosquito harbourages, mosquito infestation surveys in domestic, commercial and industrial premises and ensure reporting of activities accordingly.

Malaria-Free Nigeria

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire maintained that the Ministry would continue to strive towards a malaria-free Nigeria, using a multi-pronged and multi-sectoral approach to drive down the prevalence of the malaria and other vector borne diseases.

“Although Nigeria contributes to a quarter of global cases and deaths of malaria, I am happy to note that with efforts put in place so far, we have been able to improve on our indicators, with the country achieving a reduction in malaria prevalence from 42% in 2010 to 23% in 2018 .

“The National malaria programme has also carried out a stratification exercise which defined the intervention mixes that can be applied to specific locations across the country using granular data collated at the LGA and State levels in some cases,” he explained.

Trial Countries

The Minister also noted that the trial countries for the malaria vaccines for children are considered priority countries in the distribution but when the high burden countries are noted, Nigeria would be listed to benefit from the children vaccines and that would go round the country.

“We call on the general public to support these malaria elimination efforts.

“Simple actions like keeping our immediate environment clean, ridding our surroundings off refuse and unwanted receptacles, screening out windows and doors and sleeping inside insecticide-treated bednets every night will go a long way in curbing the malaria menace as well as other mosquito-borne diseases,” the Minister added.

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, Nigeria has the World’s highest malaria burden with an annual reported cases of 51 million and 207,000 deaths representing nearly 30% of the total malaria burden in Africa.

It is also estimated that nearly 173 million Nigerians are at risk of being infected.

This alarming situation brings along with it the economic consequences, absence from school on the part of infected School Children are basic and prominent aspects of concern owing to the high rate of man-hour loss arising from this.

Confidence Okwuchi