Temitope
Temitope Akinola
Death due to malaria disease around the world is estimated as one million people yearly. Up to 90 percent of those deaths is said to occur in Africa and Nigeria is inclusive. But the fact is nearly 40 percent of the world's population lives with the real threat of malaria.
Although most people in other parts of the world assume malaria has been conquered in their region, doctors and medical research scientists have not stopped research to fight the battle against malaria.
No single cure found for malaria
The malaria disease is primarily spread by 12 species of mosquitoes which carries half of the parasites required to trigger the disease. The human blood contains the other half of the disease, therefore when an infective mosquito bites a human, the disease is triggered.
The malaria parasite goes through seven different stages of transformation throughout its life and doctors finds it pretty difficult to tell the particular stage a parasite is when it has infected a human body. Meaning that since the stage of the malaria may not be known, it would be difficult to prescribe the vaccine that will fix it. The inability to pin down a single cure for all malaria is the main reason why people still die from the disease.
Acceptance of malaria as a regular/normal disease
In a society like Nigeria, much concern is not given to the problem malaria poses because it is often seen as normal or common. The first issue is that malaria is treated as just another part of everyday life and instead of recognizing it as a real problem, most Nigerians see it as something not worth worrying about.
The other problem is that preventing malaria in Nigeria will require people to step out of their comfort zones. One of the basic ways to curbing the spread of malaria is the use of mosquito nets but this brings with it some inconvenience. Rather than deal with the inconvenience, many people who live with malaria prefer to keep up with their routines and ignore the steps that could prevent them from getting the disease.
Giving mosquitoes and other agents of malaria breeding space
Looking at countries like the United States, malaria was removed from such societies because of provision of serene environment. The introduction of paved roads, better sanitation, clean cities, clean water and everything that hinders the spread of malaria was what brought about the eradication of Malaria. In the case of Nigeria, malaria is still prevalent because infrastructures that will curb the spread of malaria are not available in most communities. Poverty and poor living conditions, bad drainages, bushes and shrubs, dirty gutters and environments are all responsible for the breeding of malaria parasites.
If Nigeria will be free from Malaria like some other developed countries, we must do what those nations have done. Our environments must be made clean, better infrastructures must be made available and every individual must maintain a habit of cleanliness that will curb the spread of the disease that is killing thousands of people every year.
Although most people in other parts of the world assume malaria has been conquered in their region, doctors and medical research scientists have not stopped research to fight the battle against malaria.
No single cure found for malaria
The malaria disease is primarily spread by 12 species of mosquitoes which carries half of the parasites required to trigger the disease. The human blood contains the other half of the disease, therefore when an infective mosquito bites a human, the disease is triggered.
The malaria parasite goes through seven different stages of transformation throughout its life and doctors finds it pretty difficult to tell the particular stage a parasite is when it has infected a human body. Meaning that since the stage of the malaria may not be known, it would be difficult to prescribe the vaccine that will fix it. The inability to pin down a single cure for all malaria is the main reason why people still die from the disease.
Acceptance of malaria as a regular/normal disease
In a society like Nigeria, much concern is not given to the problem malaria poses because it is often seen as normal or common. The first issue is that malaria is treated as just another part of everyday life and instead of recognizing it as a real problem, most Nigerians see it as something not worth worrying about.
The other problem is that preventing malaria in Nigeria will require people to step out of their comfort zones. One of the basic ways to curbing the spread of malaria is the use of mosquito nets but this brings with it some inconvenience. Rather than deal with the inconvenience, many people who live with malaria prefer to keep up with their routines and ignore the steps that could prevent them from getting the disease.
Giving mosquitoes and other agents of malaria breeding space
Looking at countries like the United States, malaria was removed from such societies because of provision of serene environment. The introduction of paved roads, better sanitation, clean cities, clean water and everything that hinders the spread of malaria was what brought about the eradication of Malaria. In the case of Nigeria, malaria is still prevalent because infrastructures that will curb the spread of malaria are not available in most communities. Poverty and poor living conditions, bad drainages, bushes and shrubs, dirty gutters and environments are all responsible for the breeding of malaria parasites.
If Nigeria will be free from Malaria like some other developed countries, we must do what those nations have done. Our environments must be made clean, better infrastructures must be made available and every individual must maintain a habit of cleanliness that will curb the spread of the disease that is killing thousands of people every year.