Malaria among kids drops 15 pct in 5 years

Malaria prevalence among children aged less than five years has reduced by 15 percent in the last five years, preliminary findings from the latest National Malaria Indicator Survey show. Prevalence of the disease now stands at 27 percent across the country as at last year, down from 42 percent in 2010. In urban areas, prevalence […]

Malaria prevalence among children aged less than five years has reduced by 15 percent in the last five years, preliminary findings from the latest National Malaria Indicator Survey show.
Prevalence of the disease now stands at 27 percent across the country as at last year, down from 42 percent in 2010.
In urban areas, prevalence of malaria reduced from 48 percent to 36 percent within the period under review, slightly more than the 11 percent reduction seen in rural areas.
The highest prevalence was recorded in Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Osun, Benue, Taraba and Kebbi states.
The lowest prevalence of malaria was seen in Imo, Rivers, Kogi and Kano states. Zero prevalence was recorded in Lagos and urban Borno, where security challenges restricted access to rural areas of the state.
The survey, which measures malaria indicators once every five years, was done by the National Malaria Elimination Programme, the National Population Commission, and the National Bureau of Statistics, with funding from USAID, the Global Fund, DFID and UNICEF.
The draft publication seen by Daily Trust is yet to be agreed by all parties involved in the survey ahead of a public presentation later this year.