Mortein insecticide has identified prevention as one of the major cost-effective ways against the spread of malaria in Nigeria. In line with this year’s World Malaria Day theme, “Advance equity, build resilience, end malaria,” Mortein has partnered the Federal Ministry of Health through National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and other stakeholders to upscale awareness, action, and sustain the commitment for the elimination of the disease in Nigeria. The World Malaria Day is an international yearly event commemorated by Mortein and Reckitt team in the quest to eradicate malaria from Nigeria, and Africa.
Speaking at the briefing to commemorate the World Malaria Day, Marketing Director, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Tanzim Rezwan, said community engagement and collaborations are part of numerous consumer engagement by the company to stem the prevalence of malaria scourge in Nigeria with the Mortein’s Fight to End Malaria campaign.
He said the partnership with the Federal Government, which has been ongoing for years, demonstrates the company’s commitment to malaria prevention toward a healthier Nigeria.
“The fight against malaria over the years has recorded many casualties with the 2021 World Malaria Report stating that one of four global malaria cases occur in Nigeria, almost 65 million malaria cases occur in Nigeria annually, and an estimated 23 persons die from malaria-related issues every hour in Nigeria.
“With Mortein, our message is on prevention, seeing as the economic implication of prevention is better than treatment, especially for the high number of low-income citizens in the country. We have over the years partnered with Federal and State governments, as well as key opinion leaders and healthcare officials in a bid to drive awareness and sensitise the public on various ways to eliminate the malaria vector. We do this through several platforms: on-ground community engagement activities, mass media education through TV adverts, and education on digital media platforms,” he said.
In his address at the event, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, reinforced the need for increased investments in malaria programmes by governments, the private sector, and individuals towards achieving full coverage of malaria services that ensures that all in need have access to malaria preventive and treatment services towards achieving a malaria-free country. He said: “For a malaria-free Nigeria, let each of us play our parts because every effort counts.”
