Malaria kills 7, 676 Ogun residents in 2020

Malaria has killed not less than 7,676 people in Ogun State in 2020, statistics from the government has shown.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker on Thursday told newsmen in Abeokuta that 255,872 people tested positive for malaria in 2020, out of which three percent fatality rate was recorded.

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Coker disclosed this at a press conference jointly organised by the state government and Reckitt Nigeria, manufacturer of Mortein insecticide, in commemoration of the 2021 World Malaria Day.

According to her, out of the 311,668 fever cases tested, 255,872 were positive for malaria and 99.5 percent of those positive were treated free with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACTs).

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Adesanya Ayinde, listed local government areas with the highest reported cases of malaria to include Abeokuta South, Ado-Odo Ota and Ijebu North, adding that the state has 15 percent prevalence of malaria.

Coker disclosed that the state has monthly testing of 73 to 80 percent at the different Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs).

He said Africa still bears 90 percent of the global malaria burden and 91 percent of malaria deaths worldwide, and Nigeria records 27 percent of this burden and 24 percent of malaria deaths globally.

In his remarks, the Marketing Director of Reckitt Nigeria, Tanzim Rezwan, expressed the organization’s commitment to reinforce the state’s fight to eliminate the menace of malaria.