Angela Mbaocha, Abakaliki
Malaria is caused by single-celled microorganisms of the Plasmodium group and It is spread through bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.This infection remains an important contributor to the rising maternal mortality statistics recorded in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria infection is dangerous during pregnancy as it can have adverse effects on both mother and fetus. Some of these effects include maternal anemia, fetal loss, premature delivery, intrauterine growth retardation, and delivery of low birth-weight infants, a risk factor for death.
In other to prevent malaria infection, pregnant women are advised to take the Intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) with three doses of Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine.
However, despite sensitizations by Non Governmental Organizations, such as USAID-IHP, statistics has shown that only 24.0% of women in Ebonyi State use the IPTp preventive measure for malaria in pregnancy.
USAID-IHP has also supported about 212 health facilities in the State whose mandate includes taking care of pregnant women and child health. In the course of carrying out their duties, any pregnant woman who presented with malaria symptoms are adequately cared for.
The non governmental organization not only support the health facilities, but also trained the health workers in these facilities to enable pregnant women have assess to quality and effective health care services.
Though there have been some noticeable improvements in the assessment of Antenatal health care in the state following the intervention of USAID-IHP, that commenced operations in Ebonyi State in 2020, but more work needs to be done to greatly increase the number of pregnant women who assess Antenatal health care. ANC is very important because it’s during the woman’s ANC appointments that the Intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) with three doses of Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine are given.
Other interventions for malaria prevention in pregnancy include the use of insecticide-treated bed nets, effective case management (diagnosis and treatment of illness). Women being given iron/folate supplementation to protect them against anemia, which is common among all pregnant women.
Following low assessment of malaria preventive measures which has given rise to maternal mortality and mobility in the State and other health issues, USAID-IHP in collaboration with the ministry of Health, organized a three day media training to deepen the knowledge and understanding of journalists in the State to improve media health issues coverage in Ebonyi State, most especially on the importance of women engaging in malaria preventive measures during pregnancy.
It is expected that at the end of the 3-day media training, journalists would have been better equipped with the needed awareness to be created on health related issues using the correct approach and disseminating information that would spur pregnant women to register for Antenatal health care, follow up on their appointments and use other preventive measures of malaria infection during pregnancy.
