Challenges of Malaria Elimination in Nigeria; A Review

Abstract

In 2010 deaths from malaria in Nigeria were the highest recorded worldwide. This was a strange phenomenon since so much effort has been geared towards eradicating this dreaded disease in the country, hence the need to critically investigate the reasons for these challenges confronting eradication efforts. There is need to identify some of the setbacks confronting malaria elimination in Nigeria. Some of the challenges x-rayed include: inadequate healthcare infrastructure in the rural areas, poor drug distribution, increases in drug resistant parasites, increase in insecticide resistant mosquitoes, poverty leading to poorly constructed rural dwellings with cracks and crevices, and individuals’ non-compliance with the control program due to high level of illiteracy. Much work still need to be done to reduce malaria incidence to a minimum level in Nigeria. No single individual method can be used to achieve a successful malaria control program. Strategic control methods must involve some combination of effective clinical control, vector control, reduction in contact of the mosquito with its human host, improved sanitation, and better health education and malaria prevention programs. If these efforts are sustained, over time Nigeria may succeed in eradicating malaria.