Global Health Issue Paper: Health Issue Discussion

Introduction

Despite significant improvements, Nigeria’s overall health indicators remain exceedingly high. Notably, contagious illnesses continue to be a significant public health issue. Malaria, for instance, is responsible for 27% of the global disease burden (Ebuka et al., 2020). In particular, Nigeria’s primary public health issue is malaria. The annual economic cost of malaria, including treatment costs, decreased productivity, and lost wages owing to sick days, may be as high as 1.3% of GDP (Munisi et al., 2019). The illness is a significant contributor to maternal death and delayed child development. The most impacted demographics are pregnant women and young children (Ibrahim et al., 2022). The CDC collaborates with domestic and foreign partners to carry out malaria prevention and control programs as part of the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). PMI supports Nigeria’s national malaria control strategy in several major intervention areas. To significantly reduce mortality and disease, PMI prioritizes Nigeria’s regions with the greatest malaria load (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.gov, 2023). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent a local expert to Nigeria to assist with malaria control efforts. The efforts include locating and dispersing long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets, avoiding malaria in pregnant women, enhancing diagnostics and case management, and tracking and assessing malaria-related actions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.gov, 2023). In 2021, CDC assisted in distributing 129 million medication prescriptions at health institutions and communities and 22 million doses of malaria-preventative medication to pregnant women and children.

Impact

Malaria occurs more frequently in Nigeria due to social and environmental factors, including poor governance, inadequate health infrastructure, economic status, environmental conditions, poor health-seeking habits, and preventive behavior (Bayode & Siegmund, 2022). All of these factors make up the social determinant of health or SDH. As Bayode & Siegmund (2022) further note, SDH is a condition that defines how people develop, conduct their lives, and age, affecting their health. The allocation of wealth, authority, and resources at the international, governmental, and local levels also impacts these circumstances. The prevalence of malaria is significantly influenced by preventive behavior. Malaria’s alarmingly high prevalence severely affects the country (Bayode & Siegmund, 2022). The burden of malaria has numerous adverse impacts and prevents the nation from attaining its sustainable development goals.

The significant human and financial costs of malaria frequently result in decreased productivity, lost money from treatment or inability to work, and other negative effects (Munisi et al., 2019). Regardless of malaria’s direct and indirect costs, its intricate interactions with national development produce a cycle of poverty. As a result, malaria is a challenge for public health and the progress and development of nations where it is endemic. The malaria issue has always been viewed as a problem for the health sector, with little to no involvement from other sectors or the general public. According to Ebuka et al. (2020), cultural practices that could impact choosing the proper treatment are the father’s decision-making role, incorrect conceptions of severe malaria, and an understanding of malaria as an ordinary fever. For instance, tribal people in Nigeria frequently avoid receiving malaria treatment or participating in parasite management because they do not view mosquito bites as serious and view malaria as a minor illness (Ebuka et al., 2020). Untreated individuals, however, can spread the malarial infection. The common misconception that mosquitoes do not carry malaria is demonstrated by research from rural Nigeria (Munisi et al., 2019).

Additionally, People from different parts of the country refrain from spraying their homes because of the unpleasant scent that insecticides generate (Ibrahim et al., 2022). Refusing to permit spraying increases the number of mosquitoes, leading to more frequent mosquito bites and the development of malaria (Ebuka et al., 2020). Sleeping outside, without a mosquito net or other protection, and with children in the same bed are all bad sleeping practices that contribute to the spreading of malaria (Ebuka et al., 2020). The national government endorsed a logical evaluation of the healthcare policy.

The multi-sectoral transformation team has been established and operates to direct the implementation process and promote access to effective treatment (Ajisegiri et al., 2021). With resources provided by the government and partners, effective malarial control interventions are being scaled up and increased (Bayode & Siegmund, 2022). WHO plays a significant role in the collaboration, supporting the Administration and the partners’ programs. Ajisegiri et al. (2021) put more emphasis on the fact that the WHO’s strategic approach includes sustaining support for country governments, particularly the health agencies, in crucial public-health tasks related to the control of malaria; encouraging collaborations with related health programs, particularly those for immunizations and environmental health; and involving the private sector in the provision of care.

References

Ajisegiri, W. S., Abimbola, S., Tesema, A. G., Odusanya, O. O., Ojji, D. B., Peiris, D., & Joshi, R. (2021). Aligning policymaking in decentralized health systems: Evaluation of strategies to prevent and control non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. PLOS Global Public Health, 1(11), e0000050. Doi: 10.1371/journal. pg.0000050

Bayode, T., & Siegmund, A. (2022). Social determinants of malaria prevalence among children under five years: A cross-sectional analysis of Akure, Nigeria. Scientific African, 16, e01196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2022.e01196

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.gov (2023). CDC in Nigeria. Cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/countries/nigeria/default.htm

Ebuka, E. K., Chukwudi, E. M., Chikaodili, U. B., Udoka, N. C., Cosmas, O. O., Paschal, A., … & Emmanuel, O. O. (2020). The Impact of Human and Socio-cultural Behavior on Outdoor malaria transmission in a rural community of Nigeria: The Nyumagbagh Experience. N.Y. Sci. J, 13, 86-99.

Ibrahim, A. O., Bello, I. S., Shabi, O. M., Omonijo, A. O., Ayodapo, A., & Afolabi, B. A. (2022). A cross-sectional study of malaria infection and its association with socio-demographics, preventive measures, and co-morbid ailments among adult febrile patients in rural Southwestern Nigeria. SAGE Open Medicine, 10, 20503121221117853. doi: 10.1177/20503121221117853

Munisi, D. Z., Nyundo, A. A., & Mpondo, B. C. (2019). Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards malaria among symptomatic Tumbi Referral Hospital patients: A cross-sectional study. Plos one, 14(8), e0220501. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220501