Rivers State Government Commemorate 2023 World Malaria Day

The Rivers State Government, Under His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, members of the State Executive Council, commemorate the 2023 World Malaria Day.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, and Implement”. The slogan is “Act Now!”

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The celebration which was held in Rivers State wetness Her Excellency Dr Mrs Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the duty Governor of Rivers State. According to Banigo, I am pleased to state that Rivers State ranks among the top 5 states in malaria control in Nigeria due to the role of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in upgrading health facilities in the State, which has contributed immensely to this remarkable progress.

In 2021, 247 million cases were estimated, which is an increase of 245 million cases in 2020. The prevalence rate in Rivers State is 9% against a national prevalence of 22%, while in 2018, the prevalence rate had dropped to 9%, which is commendable.

“Nigeria has set the pace by being the 2nd country after Ghana to approve the R21 malaria vaccine, which is expected to prevent malaria in children between 5 to 36 months of age.”

I commend the State Malaria Control Team for working assiduously to reduce the malaria burden of the State.

The State Government has played its part, and it behooves citizens to play their part by testing before treating malaria to ensure they sleep inside insecticide-treated bed nets.

I urge all pregnant women to register in government-approved health facilities to ensure they get intermittent preventive therapy in pregnancy.