A Professor of Public Health, Entomology and Parasitology, at the Osun State University, Professor Monsuru Adeleke has identified the cause for the spread of malaria in Africa.
The Don stated that Africans aid the spread of malaria through creating environmental attitude that help the mosquitoes to breed.
Prof Adeleke also disclosed that malaria had claimed the lives of 608,000 people in 85 countries across the globe. This is even as Africa continues to bear the brunt of the disease.
The Don disclosed this while delivering a paper at the Osun State University’s 20th Inaugural Lecture held at the university auditorium in Osogbo.
Speaking on topic titled, “Unending war of man against mosquitoes and blackflies: A tale of two sacrificial lambs searching for survival,” Adeleke argued that vector-borne diseases account for over 60% of deadly and life-threatening diseases affecting humans. He noted that malaria is a major concern.
He said, “Over 94% of malaria cases ( among 233 million people) and 95% of malaria deaths occurred in Africa. And children under 5, accounted for about 80% of all malaria deaths in the Region.
“The diseases harboured and transmitted by insects (vector-borne diseases) constitute over 60% of deadly and life-threatening diseases of humans (Service, 1999).”
“Aside from death that, malaria is responsible for, other complications and socio-economic retrogressions occur. These include illness, frequent school and work absenteeism, abortion, and stillbirth are also other unfriended diseases to humanity.
Prof Adeleke, therefore, stated that government and policymakers must adopt integrated vector control strategies. He said this would help to combat vector-borne diseases rather mono-policy approach to the issue.
He said, “The mono-policy being implemented over the years is not yielding satisfactory results. It is giving the vectors free ways to devise means of escaping the onslaught.
“Existing laws on environmental sanitation and pollution need to be strengthened and strictly enforced. Vectors breed in our surroundings, and preventing their breeding grounds solves 80% of the problem.
“There must be attitudinal change if Africa, and Nigeria (in particular) must win the war against vector-borne diseases. Many of our activities in Nigeria inadvertently create environments conducive to vectors.”
” For instance, our habit of turning gutters into dumping sites during the wet season blocks rivers’ flow. And creates stagnant water ideal for mosquito breeding. Let us stop the indiscriminate use of insecticides. Let us stop habits that create opportunities for the vectors to breed and thrive.
In his remark, the Vice- Chancellor of the university, Professor Clement Adebooye spoke in the vein. He stressed the need for Africans to adequately manage mosquito in order to reduce the spread of malaria.
“The inaugural lecturer has provided a clue as to how we can appropriately manage mosquitoes so that malaria can be reduced in our society.
“I’m sure that by strengthening health delivery mechanism by the government, the cause of malaria will be reduced in our society”, he said.
source: Vanguard
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