Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Oyebanji Filani, said that the state government had treated over 800,000 persons for malaria in the last 18 months as part of efforts to eliminate the disease in the state.
Filani said the figure included preventive treatment given to pregnant women and as well as curative treatment to some persons at the 177 primary healthcare facilities in the state and other levels of delivery.
A statement made available in Ado Ekiti on Friday stated that the commissioner spoke during a chat where he reeled out activities of the state government on malaria prevention and elimination.
The commissioner, who said that “treatment for malaria in Ekiti State, including drugs and consultation and as well as many other services under the Ulerawa Programme is free at the 177 primary health centres,” encouraged residents to visit the healthcare facilities whenever they noticed malaria symptoms.
Speaking on the latest efforts of the state government on malaria, Filani said, “In terms of rapid diagnostic tests, which allow us to test for malaria, we have done 683,000 in the last 18 months.
For preventive medications which we give to pregnant women and for the treatment, we have done cumulatively about 800,000 of that. We have also distributed nets across the state.
For instance, during the 2025 World Malaria Day last month, we distributed over a thousand nets to pregnant women and children under five to ensure that they get adequate cover”.
On Malaria burden in the state, the commissioner said, “Going by the last data, it is about 20.8 per cent, but with all the interventions that we have put in place, at the next survey, it would have come down drastically.
We have State Health Vanguards who go around the state ensuring that people know the activities that we do and also test people for malaria, and should there be any issue, there will be an appropriate response.
We are taking all necessary steps to reduce Malaria prevalence, working with our colleagues in Environment, Education, and Water Sanitation and Hygiene sectors to provide the necessary information that enables people to change their attitude to lead malaria-free lives.
We have very clear engagement on a regular basis using traditional and new media to continue to remind people of the preventive measures ensuring that they are able to use nets and keep their houses clean of stagnant water which could breed mosquitoes.
He added that capacities were also being built in the healthcare facilities in the state to be able to address malaria cases.
Filani added that the malaria vaccines, which would be available in the coming months, “would provide an opportunity to further reduce the prevalence down the line”.
