National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Chuks Peter, DELTA
As part of its efforts to mark the World Malaria Day, in Delta State. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in collaboration with Gilbert Hill Foundation and the Delta state government warned residents of Delta state to avoid self medication and use of local herbal concoctions porpularly known as agbo, in treating malaria.
The NDDC’s Assistant Director, Education, Health and Social Services, Mrs. Irene Emavwodia, said people should stop patronising traditional remedy. “Do not use ‘agbo’. Don’t go to roadside chemists to obtain drugs that are not prescribed by medical expert”, she admonished at the event.
According to NDDC, Delta State Government and Gilbert Hill Foundation, “a call has been made for people to avoid self medication and use of local herbal concoctions in treating malaria.
“Rather, when symptoms of malaria manifest, remedies should be sought at hospitals where appropriate and efficacious antimalarial drugs can be obtained and administered.”
This was said during the World Malaria Day in Warri, Delta State on Wednesday, adding that, “residents were warned to stop self medication in their quest to tackle the disease, especially with traditional medicine.
“Against the backdrop of the emergence of various strains of malaria that are resistant to popular drugs, Emavwodia said there is need for proper checkup prior to taking of drugs when symptoms of maleria manifest.
She said, “symptoms of malaria include weakness, vomitting and miscarriages in pregnant women.
“There is the tendency for people to fall into coma when body temperature is high. “Malaria is not your friend”, she said.
As part of preventive measures to tackle malaria, Dr. Aniah said the residents should keep their environment clean by de-silting their gutters and clear stagnant water in their areas. She also urged Deltans to regularly fumigate their environment.
Aniah also urged residents to install insecticide treated mosquitoe nets in their homes and procure only prescribed drugs from certified pharmacists.
On his part, the Delta State Health Promotion Officer/Social Mobilisation Coordinator, Ministry of Health, Asaba, Odejerho Odejerho, highlighted the dangers of malaria, urging people in riverine communities to use insecticide treated mosquito nets given to them. He decried the attitude of some people who convert them to nets for fishing, warning that anybody caught using insecticide treated mosquito nets for fishing and farming will be prosecuted according to the law.
The Executive Secretary, Warri South Council, Dr. Tosan Sagay, commended the NDDC and the Delta State Government for the sustained fight against malaria, but said that more still needs to be done.
The theme for this year’s World Malaria Day celebration is “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.
