Rivers Malaria Burden Declines -RSG

The state malaria burden is now on the decline according to statistics revealed by the state government.
Former Commissioner for Health, Prof Princewill Chike during a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt said the state malaria prevalence is at nine percent.
This he said is far from the national malaria prevalence at 22 per cent.
In his words: “ the target is for a zero malaria status in the state, Rivers state ranks among the best five state with less prevalence in the country.
He related that in Africa malaria scourge still kill many as 245 million persons were recorded in 2022, as Nigeria accounts for 29 percent of this statistics.
He lamented that pregnant women and children under five years are vulnerable and hence should take the new vaccine now available in the country.
Urging the public to take care of their health seriously and prevent malaria, the health commissioner advised them to sleep under treated nets and ensure they go for tests before treating malaria.
On what the state was doing to check the scourge, Chike said the state government is putting in place facilities through building and equipping of hospitals and health centres across the State.
He assured that the state is targeting a zero malaria status by 2030, or reduced to at least 90 percent.

By: Kevin Nengia