World Health Day: 3.5bn persons at risk of vector-borne diseases – WHO

AS Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this
year’s World Health Day, the world Health
Organisation, WHO, has raised alarm over the threat
of vector-borne diseases on more than half the
world’s population, even as it called for higher
priority on vector control to save lives.
Also, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has
called for the establishment of an aggressive, well-
funded and supervised environmental management
programme to tackle menace of disease laden
organisms which have contributed to the huge
disease burden in Nigeria.
In a statement, WHO called for a renewed focus on
vector control and better provision of safe water,
sanitation and hygiene – key strategies outlined in
its (WHO’s) 2011 Roadmap for the control,
elimination and eradication of neglected tropical
diseases, which sets targets for the period 2012–
2020.
Some of the vector borne diseases includes
malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease,
schistosomiasis, and yellow fever – carried by
mosquitoes, flies, ticks, water snails and other
vectors.
Every year, more than one billion people are
infected by these diseases and more than one
million die.
The theme for this year – “Preventing Vector Borne
Diseases”, and the slogan “Small bite, big threat” is
targeted at emphasizing that these diseases are
entirely preventable.
Vector-borne diseases affect the poorest
populations, particularly where there is a lack of
access to adequate housing, safe drinking water
and sanitation. Malnourished people and those with
weakened immunity are especially susceptible.
Speaking on the Day, WHO Director-General, Dr
Margaret Chan explained that “A global health
agenda that gives higher priority to vector control
could save many lives and avert much suffering.
Simple, cost-effective interventions like
insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor spraying
have already saved millions of lives,” No one in the
21st century should die from the bite of a mosquito,
a sandfly, a blackfly or a tick.”
Mosquito-borne dengue, for example, is now found
in 100 countries, including Nigeria, putting more
than 2.5 billion people – over 40 percent of the
world’s population – at risk. In Nigeria, malaria is
classified the most deadly disease.
“Vector control remains the most important tool in
preventing outbreaks of vector-borne diseases,”
says Dr Lorenzo Savioli, Director of WHO’s
Department of Control of Neglected Tropical
Diseases. “Increased funds and political
commitment are needed to sustain existing vector-
control tools, as well as medicines and diagnostic
tools – and to conduct urgently needed research.”
Speaking on the development, NMA President, Dr.
Osahon Enabulele, expressed worry that Nigeria is
still grappling with issues of development at the
very foundational levels.
“It is a known fact that Vectors are most commonly
found in areas and habitations characterised by
scarcity of potable water, poor housing conditions,
poor environmental hygiene and abject poverty,
succinctly summarised by the WHO as
“Communities left behind by development”.
“NMA is of the view that not until an aggressive,
deeply committed, well-funded and supervised
environmental management program is instituted,
Nigeria may not heave a sigh of relief in her fight
against the menacing unsolicited advances of the
disease laden organisms which have undoubtedly
contributed to the huge disease burden in Nigeria,”
the statement stated.
“We expect the three tiers of government to enforce
strict implementation of enabling public health and
housing laws; institute measures for proper waste/
sewage disposal and other preventive measures,
construct roads with standard and well maintained
drains,” he stressed.
They further called on Government to ensure that
Nigerians are vaccinated against vector-borne
diseases that have preventive vaccines, while
providing drugs for known vector-borne diseases.
He advised Nigerians not to abandon the ideals of
personal hygiene, environmental and home
sanitation, as well as other home grown innovative
vector control measures.
The NMA president appealed to the mass media,
National Orientation Agency, Federal and State
Ministries of Information to religiously disseminate
genuine and accurate information about disease
outbreaks and modalities for containment.
He further expressed concern about the dwindling
budgetary allocation to the health sector, which he
said was capable of incapacitating agencies of
government in rendering their statutory and
contingency roles in healthcare delivery.