Malaria remains the most important public health parasitic disease and a major global health problem with the greatest burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is so widespread that it is virtually impossible to come across any Nigerian who has never had malaria or had a family who developed it.
According to WHO an estimated 445,000 people out of 216 million cases died from malaria in 2016; 90% of this is accounted for by Africa. Nigeria accounts for 25 percent of the world’s malaria burden. The global burden of malaria is huge, accounting for more deaths than HIV/AIDS.
Malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium. It is transmitted by a type of mosquito known as the Anopheles mosquito. These mosquitoes are a host to the parasite and transmit it to humans during a blood meal – when they bite humans.
The Kantar Companies in Nigeria before 2017 usually embark on different Corporate Social Responsibility initiative to appreciate their host communities and the larger society. But in 2017, the Kantar Companies in Nigeria decided to embark on an annual push against malaria to reduce the burden of the scourge hoping like the rest of the society to Beat Malaria in Lagos and eventually in Nigeria.
According to Adeola Tejumola, CEO of The Kantar Companies in West, East and Central Africa (WECA) this initiative by the company would be taken to the rest of the African countries where the Kantar Companies operate in due course.
The WMD programme for 2018 had three major phases:
First, Community awareness walk and publicity in the Ojodu area of Lagos where the Kantar Companies Co-locate
Second, Health talks on Malaria Prevention & Control on the WMD by medical professionals from our partners NON-SUCH HMO
Third, Free Malaria test & medication plus insecticides and treated nets gifts to Pregnant & Nursing Women and Mothers with children under the age of 5.
Thanking volunteers at the end of the programme, Aggrey Maposa CEO Kantar Companies in Nigeria promised a bigger and better community outreach in 2018.
