Malaria outbreak in Kano State
Kano state, like most other tropical areas has had, naturally, a high prevalence of the malaria disease. However, over the past few weeks the state has witnessed an unprecedented outbreak of the disease with most medical centres, private and public, filled to the brim with affected patients, many of them requiring emergency attention. Quite a number of the resulting deaths, having occurred in homes might not have been captured in hospitals’ records. The proportion of this upsurge, both in spread and intensity is most worrisome.
Apparently concerned by this development, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje went round the medical facilities on an inspection and assessment visit. And at the end of it, he approved the remittance of N30 million for the purchase of medication and onward distribution to affected persons.
While commending the timely and appropriate intervention of the governor, I will all the same hasten to observe that we may yet be witnessing a new pattern in the malaria scourge which requires deeper scientific diligence and wider consultations with concerned experts.
I may sound alarmist indeed. But given the attitude of our peoples pertaining to treatment; where it is prematurely abandoned halfway and the resilience of the malaria parasite in adapting to partially used medications, I would still insist on expanded scientific vigilance.
The most serious threat in this case is not only the outbreak itself, but that beginning with it a new pattern may well be unfolding and which will make the future control of malaria ever more difficult.
To put it in proper perspective, I am afraid that a new strain of the malaria parasite, increasingly resistant to most available medications may well be underway of developing or has already developed. This expected eventuality is the result of improper, incomplete and oftentimes outright abuse of the malaria treating medicines.
Consequently, I call on the Kano state government to as a matter of urgency; one, set up a committee of competent public health personnel with a view to answering the relevant questions on this issue; two, draw international attention to this global issue with a view to get needed support and concern. We are all aware that the international community and many world class NGO’s are up at war against the malaria disease perceiving it rightfully so, as the second most prevalent killer disease the world over.
Finally, if the government can see a need of setting up a committee to investigate about a single collapsed building in the Kano State University of Science and Technology Wudil, it obviously has more reason to investigate deeper into this public health issue.
Mustapha Aminu Yusuf, Kano