By: Ibraheem Olasunkanmi Qoseem

The Former Director of Malaria Elimination Programme in Kwara State, Alh. Nageri Tunde Abdullahi has said that the dispensation of drugs without proper diagnosis is one of the big threat impeding the success of the fight against malaria disease.

He said this while sensitizing people of Ayegbami community in Ilorin during a medical outreach organized by All Round Helping Hands Foundation (ARHH). The medical outreach which lasted for two days featured the activities like sensitization, free medical tests and free drug dispensation.

The expert who is also the Executive Director of the organization, lamented on the impending cases of malaria and it’s dire implications on human health and socioeconomic: linking the worst scenerio to dispensation of drugs without diagnosis.

He also made people awared that if a sick person presented symptoms, diagnosis is the first step not treatment, because it is through the diagnosis that is when the appropriate medical interventions will be decided.

He stressed further by citing the ineffectiveness of common antimalarial drug(chloroquine) as one of the consequences of the uncouth act. In his assuredness note:

” As an organization we will continue to play our part by promoting the quality of basic healthcare in the society. There will be free medical tests for everyone and anyone tested positive for malaria disease will be given drugs freely” he assured.

The project director, Mrs. Raheemat Abdullahi, expressed that the program was the continual effort of the foundation on its mission to ensure that quality healthcare delivery is promoted through health education and medical interventions in a disadvantage communities.

She also expressed that: ” Although malaria disease is a public health challenge but our irresponsible acts like abusing drugs and misuse of treated insecticide net to either window-net or exchange for rubbers aren’t encouraging, hence, the need for sensitization to educate people about it”.