The Akwa Ibom State Government has raised concerns over the growing impact of malaria in Nigeria, revealing that the disease claims more lives than road accidents across the country.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, made the disclosure while addressing journalists in Uyo ahead of a statewide campaign aimed at distributing 3.9 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets to households across the 31 local government areas of the state.
According to the commissioner, malaria remains one of the deadliest health challenges facing Nigerians despite the availability of treatment and preventive measures.
He said:
“You see more people die from malaria than they die from road accidents.”
Dr. John stressed that many severe health complications, including kidney failure, have been linked to untreated or poorly managed malaria cases. He noted that although governments often focus attention on visible infrastructure projects, the fight against malaria deserves equal urgency because of the number of lives lost annually.
As part of efforts to reduce infections, the Akwa Ibom State Government is partnering with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, the United States government, and the Against Malaria Foundation to distribute free treated mosquito nets across communities in the state.
Officials explained that the campaign will begin with household registration from June 1 to June 7, while the distribution phase is scheduled for June 20 to June 26.
The commissioner also highlighted progress already made in the state’s malaria control efforts, revealing that malaria prevalence in Akwa Ibom has dropped significantly in recent years. According to him, recent health surveys showed a reduction from 29.9 percent to 15.5 percent.
Despite the improvement, health authorities insist that malaria remains a major public health threat requiring continuous awareness, prevention campaigns, and community participation.