Malaria kills one in every four children under four years in Akwa Ibom State despite being preventable and treatable while two person die of the disease in every two minutes.
Mary Bassey, an official of the state ministry of health in the Malaria Elimination programme stated this during the celebration of the International youth day organized by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Bassey also disclosed that though the state government in partnership with development agencies had distributed over three million Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets as a preventive measure, many of the nets were misused by the people.
She added that the maintenance of a clean environment would help to prevent malaria caused by a bite from female mosquitoes.
She advised the youths who were students drawn from selected secondary schools in the state to “run to healthcare facilities within 24 hours of illness’’ to be properly treated against malaria after they might have been tested.
According to her, the completion of the prescribed dosage for treatment of malaria would go along away in eliminating the menace of malaria attack which places a hug burden on the economy.
She noted malaria attack has been responsible for many students being absent from schools and called on them to join in the campaign to prevent the disease by keeping their surroundings clean to avoid mosquitoes breeding.
Bassey who lauded the state government for the provision of malaria commodities for the treatment of malaria as well as the renovation and upgrading health facilities in the state pregnant women should take preventive measures which should include intermittent preventive treatment as well as sleeping inside long lasting insecticide treated nets.
Earlier, the director of youth’s development, state ministry of youths and sports, Emmanuel Akpabio urged the youths to shun cultism and guard against drug abuse to ensure they have a bright future.
He advised the youths to adopt a modest lifestyle while the girls should have female mentors and guard against teenage pregnancy which he said could hamper their academic progress.
A representative of the ministry of education, Iniobong Umoh expressed regret that the international youth day could not be marked on August 12 as it is done worldwide but urged the youths to avail themselves of the free education programme of the state government adding that the state government is committed to the provision of quality education in the state.
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo
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