A total of one thousand, and seventy nine (1,079) persons died of malaria complications in Kano state in 2020, State Commissioner of Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa disclosed on Sunday in Kano.
Speaking at a press conference in commemoration of the World Malaria Day Celebration, the commissioner disclosed that in the year under review, the state recorded 3,712,354 outpatient attendance.
According to him, 2,349,596 fever cases screened for malaria, adding that 1,685,925 diagnosed for uncomplicated malaria, as 1,664,991, representing 98.8% were treated with ACTs.
Dr Tsanyawa further stated that in the first quarter of 2021, 355,426 individuals were diagnosed as uncomplicated malaria with 352,363, representing 99.1% treated with ACTs, as 155 died.
To address the challenges, according to the commissioner, despite the unprecedented global health crisis, especially in the face of COVID-19 pandemic, Kano state government, under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has placed high priority on malaria in a bid to save lives of women and children.
He said the state government, in collaboration with development partners has administered more than 3,000,715 doses of malaria Chemo-prevention drugs (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine & Amodiaquine- SO+AQ) with a view to preventing malaria deaths in children under age of five years.
Dr Tsanyawa added that the state government had procured anti-malarial commodities worth over N279 million in the first quarter of 2021, adding that the effort was to eliminate malaria in the state.
He restarted the commitment of the state government towards eliminating malaria by the year 2035.
“Gentlemen of the press, I will like to reaffirm the government’s commitment towards improving healthcare system in the state by earmarking 10% of Kano Health Trust Fund( KHETFUND) to fight against malaria and reducing the burden of associated disease as well as other interventions such as the subsidized sale of anti-malarial drugs(ACT) and LLINs by some of our implementating partners through private sector.
“These have received renewed vigour in line with improving and safeguarding the quality of lives of the good people of Kano state,” he said.