A medical expert, Dr Kunle Adedoyin, says that combining sleeping inside the insecticidal-treated net with intermittent malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy remains the only option to ensure pregnant women do not suffer fatal consequences of malaria, like stillbirth and premature delivery.
Adedoyin, the medical officer of health at Ibadan South East Local Government, made this disclosure at the 2024 World Mosquito Day by the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health (RMCH) in conjunction with the Oyo State Government under its “Tackling Malaria and Malnutrition among Pregnant Women and Under-5 Years Children in Oyo State” project.
The programme also offered over 400 nursing mothers and pregnant women medical consultations, malaria treatment and drugs for pregnant women, malnutrition screening in children above six months, and the distribution of mosquito bed nets in Ibadan.
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He declared that malaria in pregnancy is dangerous to both the mother and her unborn baby but better prevented with the use of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) as intermittent preventive treatment and sleeping inside the net to prevent mosquito bites.
“If in pregnancy they have malaria, it could result in anaemia or a low blood level in the mother. Anaemia will affect the baby’s growth in the womb and lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes like spontaneous abortion, premature birth, delivery of low birth weight babies, and stillbirth.
“So, malaria in pregnancy is very dangerous, particularly for the baby. It is for this reason that they should sleep inside to prevent mosquito bites and to use the sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine to prevent malaria during pregnancy.
“The sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine is given from three months up to the time of delivery, depending on the time of registration for antenatal care. So it is very important that they also register and ensure regular visits to the clinic for antenatal care.”
Past Rotary President and the project’s team lead, Adeniji Raji, stated that the commemoration of the 2024 world mosquito day was aimed at combating the devastating impact of malaria and malnutrition by providing education, resources, and support to children under 5 years and pregnant women being the most vulnerable.
“Through targeted interventions such as distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, testing and provision of antimalarial medications, and education on prevention methods, we strive to reduce the burden of malaria and protect our community members from this deadly disease.
“Moreover, malnutrition, a silent epidemic affecting mothers and infants, undermines the growth and development of future generations. By offering nutritional counselling, supplementary feeding programs, and access to micronutrient supplements, we seek to improve the dietary intake and overall health of mothers and infants in Ibadan South East LGA and 14 other local government areas in Oyo State.
“Through collaborative efforts with Oyo state local health authorities, community leaders, and dedicated Rotarians, we aspire to create a healthier and more resilient community where the impact of malaria and malnutrition is minimised and the well-being of mothers and infants is prioritised,” he said.
Earlier, Mrs Rosaline Ayodele, the malaria focal person for Ibadan South East Local government, listed common misconceptions in the community that are rife, such as “all fevers are due to malaria”; “malaria is not preventable”; “malaria is not a serious disease”; and “Malaria can be cured by taking antibiotics.”
