Society for Family Health...Malaria Treatment

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH-Malaria

Workplace Intervention

Stakeholder Collaboration

Focus on Youth

Malaria

Safe Water Systems

Improved Reproductive Health In Nigeria (IRHIN) Project ...read more

MALARIA

Malaria remains the foremost killer disease in Nigeria. It accounts for over 25% of under-5 mortality, 30% childhood mortality and 11% maternal mortality. At least 50% of the population has at least one episode of malaria annually while children that are aged less than 5 years (about 24 million) have 2 to 4 attacks annually (FMOH 2002). The disease is particularly virulent among pregnant women and children under 5 years of age, due to their low levels of immunity.

To address the importance of both malaria treatment and prevention, SFH malaria programming centers on Pre-Packaged Therapy (PPT) and Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs).

Pre-Packaged Therapy: KidACT an Artemesinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT)
The PPT was instituted by SFH to improve Nigerian malaria home management. Currently, the three major obstacles to appropriate malaria treatment in Nigeria are:
• Administration of incorrect dosages of anti-malarial drugs
• Lack of compliance to the treatment regimen
• Lack of knowledge and experience of the effective anti-malarias known as Artemesinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) – resulting from the change in malaria treatment policy.

SFH launched KidCare PPT in 2003 and stopped its distribution in 2006 in line with the Federal Ministry of Health new treatment policy on malaria. SFH did the first pan Nigerian radio campaign to promote the new policy of using Artemisinine-based Combination Therapy as the new first line drug for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. A new brand of ACT KidACT is being developed and will be launched in the first quarter of 2008. The brand will be heavily subsidized price-wise for it to be available to the poor and vulnerable that bear the brunt of malaria in our society.

Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs)
Malaria prevention is equally as important as malaria treatment – it is estimated that prevention alone could save Nigeria billions of Naira in treatment expenses and foregone wages due to illness-related unemployment.

PermaNet LLINs are factory-treated mosquito nets that are safe, easy to use, and come in a variety of sizes and colors to address individual needs. PermaNet LLINs are effective for up to 4 years and will last a minimum of 20 washes – they require no re-treatment during this time, making them 5-10 times more effective than normally treated mosquito nets. LLINs are an inexpensive and easy way of preventing malaria from burdening the health and economic well-being of Nigerians.

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