LIFESTYLE Culture

Malaria Consortium Promotes Testing, Warns Against Self-Treatment

by admin on | 2026-04-27 15:31:01

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By Mohammad Bala Imam

A non-governmental charitable organisation, Malaria Consortium, has cautioned residents of Nasarawa State against self-medication for malaria.

The State Programme Manager of Malaria Consortium, Dr. Kassim Musa Khalid, stated this after a road walk to commemorate World Malaria Day in Lafia, the state capital.

He said self-medication is inappropriate, as wrong drugs might be used for another illness, which could cause serious harm to patients.

“If you’re sick, the first thing to do is to visit the hospital and conduct a test to know what is actually the problem before taking medication,” Dr. Khalid explained.

He further called on residents of the state to take proactive steps in preventing the burden of malaria by keeping their environment clean and ensuring they visit health facilities before taking treatment when ill.

Dr. Khalid urged residents to allow their wards to receive the preventive malaria drugs being distributed during the rainy season to eligible children aged three to 59 months.

“Once a child is sick, take him/her to the facility, because there would be a Malaria test kit and drugs for free. Also after given your child the SMC drug, keeps the cards safe, as it would be use at the end of the day as cateria for the collection of mosquitoes net across the state”.

Also speaking, the Nasarawa State Malaria Programme Manager, Hajiya Izzatu Yakubu Akwe, explained the significance of preventing malaria in the state.

She said pregnant women are the most vulnerable when it comes to malaria, stressing that preventive measures must be taken seriously to protect both mother and unborn child.

“We should ensure that our environment and surroundings are clean and free of stagnant waters that are breeding ground for mosquitoes, that is the way out,” she noted.

The theme for the 2026 World Malaria Day is “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must.”