Why Malaria Attack Is High – Expert …Urges Public To Use Nets, Approved Insecticides

An expert on marine ecology and lecturer at the Rivers State University, Prof. Ebere Nwabueze, has blamed the high incidence of malaria on the resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides.
Nwabueze in a chat with The Tide stated that the use of unapproved chemicals has made mosquitoes more resistant to insecticides, hence, the rise in malaria infections.
“Insecticides are no more effective for many reasons because they are overused and abused and so the vectors build resistance,” he said.
To worsen the situation, he observed that use of chemicals in agriculture has equally contributed to resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides, noting that, “most of the chemicals used in impregnating nets no longer kill the vectors.”
Nwabueze who is the Principal Investigator of Malaria Vector Surveillance/Insecticide Resistance Monitoring, a World Health Organisation(WHO)- sponsored research centre in the University noted that, “ we have observed that what is remaining now is that the nets only serve as physical barriers since the chemicals are not strong enough to repel or kill mosquitoes.”
In order to address the situation, he revealed that efforts are being made to test new chemicals and methods. “We are subjecting the vectors to various chemicals from WHO and we are looking at the intensity of the resistance.”
The university teacher advised the public to stop using unapproved chemicals as insecticides, especially those sold along the roadside, adding that many of those chemicals are also dangerous to health.
“ I will advise the public to rather use aerosols-what we call flits because many of the chemicals sold along the road contain DDT, a chemical that is dangerous and harms the environment”.
Making a plea to government to beef up action to towards curbing the menace of malaria, Nwabueze suggested the need for sponsorship of research and funding of projects towards eradicating malaria, as he called on the public to also clean their environment to reduce breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
For now, he urged the people to always sleep under mosquito nets since that will provide barrier against mosquito bites and being infected with malaria parasites.

By: Kevin Nengia