In commemoration of the World Malaria Day, leading online shopping community Kaymu has partnered with NGO, Slum To School, to combat the scourge of malaria in Nigeria through its “Net a child’’ campaign.
The team visited Makoko and Epe Communities in Lagos to distribute treated mosquito nets and sensitized the communities on the prevention and treatment of the infectious disease caused by the parasite of genius Plasmodium.
In a statement released by the Company, Managing Director of Kaymu Nigeria, Evangeline Wiles said, ’’Malaria has a devastating socio-economic impact in the country and all efforts must be intensified by the government and corporate organizations to eradicate the disease.
"To this end, Kaymu has partnered with Slum to School and Apostles of the Marketplace to spread awareness about the cause of malaria and preventive measures to residents of Makoko and Epe Communities in Lagos State ".
According to the Lagos State Ministry of Health, malaria is responsible for 70% of outpatient attendance at the secondary healthcare facilities and over 80% of all tracer diseases reported by primary healthcare facilities (HMIS).The most vulnerable groups are under-fives, pregnant women, visitors from non-endemic areas, those with sickle cell anaemia, HIV/AIDS victims.
Malaria has remained a major public health problem in Nigeria. The disease has impacted negatively on the economy with about 132 Billion Naira lost to the disease as cost of treatment and loss in man-hours, according to the Lagos State Ministry of Health.