RSG Reduces Malaria Prevalence By 17%

The Rivers Government says it has succeeded in reducing malaria prevalence from 60 per cent to 43 per cent in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, disclosed this in an interview last Thursday in Port Harcourt.

Parker said that the state would host an international malaria conference on May 4.

He said that the conference would draw participants from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

According to him, other participants from some West African countries are expected at the conference, aimed at show casing the efforts to eliminate malaria in the state.

He said the state was also planning to host an ECOWAS review meeting on malaria programme, adding that the state had recorded successes in the fight against malaria.

‘’ We have so far been able to reduce our malaria morbidity rate to 43 per cent from what we met in about 60 per cent and mortality rate to almost zero.

‘’And that is by, in addition to the three pronged approach of the Federal Ministry of Health using an integrated vector management of insecticide treated nets, diagnosis and treatment and indoor residuals spraying .

‘’ We have introduced biolarviociding and with good results coming up so far. We are hosting the whole country to share experience for our successes so far.’’

Parker said the introduction of biolarviociding, which means spraying of chemicals to kill mosquito larvae in lakes and Rivers, was being facilitated by the ECOWAS.

He said 10 of the 23 local government councils of the state had been covered by the biolarviociding exercise.

The Commissioner also said the state government was liaising with ECOWAS to build a factory that would manufacture the chemicals in Port Harcourt to sustain the war against the scourge.