Dr Audu Mohammed, who was represented by the Head of the Monitoring and Evaluation branch of the organization, Dr Perpetua Uhomoibhi, said the media has an important role to play because malaria is still a huge public health problem, accounts for most of the burden of diseases and deaths among children under five and pregnant women, and also takes a toll on the economy as almost 50% visits to health facilities is for malaria diagnosis and treatment.

He said the programme along with local and international partners has put in place interventions to address malaria such as long lasting insecticide nets, adding that while ownership of such nets is about 70 percent , the usage is just 40 to 50 percent. She said it was important for the media to create awareness that it is not just to collect the nets but to use them, and to also enlighten the public on the need to be  tested before treatment for malaria.

Managing Director of the Society for Family Health Mr Bright Ekweremadu said inspite of the malaria control interventions by stakeholders in the country, Nigerians were still not properly aware of the creditable developments, adding that there still exists a huge information gap and relevant knowledge about diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of malaria. He said the goal of the two organisations  was to improve the quality of malaria information available for the people through engagement with the media. “We enjoin you all to use your different highly effective media platforms to educate and inform Nigerians about malaria, and help to promote appropriate behaviours for malaria elimination as we work towards a malaria-free Nigeria. The time to act is now. Together we will eliminate malaria from Nigeria,” he said.

Studies by the Society for Family Health revealed that about three billion United States dollars is lost to malaria yearly due to out of pocket treatment and prevention costs. Professor of paediatrics and child health at the University of Ilorin, Prof Olugbenga Mokuolu, in his presentation on ‘Malaria elimination in Nigeria’ said Nigeria accounts for one third  of global malaria deaths He said the media was a critical partner in the fight against malaria, adding that the goals of attaining Pre-elimination by 2020 will hinge heavily on the media and that “it will be the backbone on which the final success of Malaria fight will depend.”

Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw decried the attitude of Nigerians in communising malaria inspite of its harmful effect, and urged the media to lead the fight against the disease.

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