Anambra Emerges Second Lowest in Malaria Prevalence Nationwide

In a recent revelation, Afam Obidike, the Commissioner for Health in Anambra State, disclosed that the state has secured the second lowest position in malaria prevalence across the country. Speaking to NAN on Saturday, Obidike attributed this remarkable feat to the health interventions spearheaded by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.

According to the commissioner, Lagos clinched the top spot with a mere three percent malaria prevalence, closely followed by Anambra at five percent. This data, extracted from the District Health Information System of 2023, highlights a significant decline in under-five malaria-related deaths within Anambra.

Obidike elucidated that the under-five mortality rate caused by malaria in Anambra plummeted from 4.6 percent in 2020 to a strikingly low 0.96 percent in 2023. He credited this success to strategic initiatives such as the thorough desilting of drains across the state and the distribution of 3.8 million mosquito nets in collaboration with the Malaria Consortium.

Moreover, Obidike emphasized the substantial increase in the utilization of mosquito nets in Anambra, soaring from 27 percent to an impressive 57 percent, surpassing the national average of 37 percent. He also underscored the state government’s commitment to providing free antenatal care, wherein pregnant women receive the sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine drug to combat malaria during pregnancy.

In closing, the commissioner reiterated Anambra’s ambitious objective to become the state with the lowest malaria prevalence in Nigeria. He affirmed the unwavering dedication of the government and its stakeholders towards achieving this monumental goal.