World Malaria Day: Expert suggests diagnosis before treatment

Dr. Cliff Okafor, Executive Director, Community Health, Education and Development in Africa, a Non-Governmental Organisation, on Monday suggested proper diagnosis before treatment of malaria.

Okafor made the suggestion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka.

The medical expert said that Nigeria still accounted for high mortality rate in malaria.

He said that people were still ignorant of how to treat malaria and end up taking wrong drugs.

“Governments at all levels and stakeholders should ensure proper counselling of the people on the treatment of malaria.

“Some drugs bought from patent medicine dealers had no content on dosage and timing.

“Patent medicine dealers should be enlightened on the right dosage and if sickness persists, should refer patients to bigger hospitals,’’ he told NAN.

Okafor, a Medical Director of Harmony Specialist Hospital, Awka, said that it was risky for patients to rush and buy malaria tablets at the slightest sign of sickness without proper diagnosis.

He said that malaria accounted for 70 per cent of hospital attendance in Nigeria.