Stop self-medicating fevers: Get tested for malaria first, experts warn Nigerians
Despite being preventable and treatable, malaria killed 610,000 people globally in 2024, with 95% of deaths in Africa and Nigeria among the top five burden countries. The WHO's 2025 report shows cases rose to 282 million last year, driven by self-medication where people treat fevers as malaria without testing.
This matters because wrong treatment fuels drug resistance and delays care for actual illnesses - deadly for Nigeria's vulnerable: 75% of African malaria deaths are children under five, plus pregnant women and immunocompromised. Ogun State shows progress with net distributions, test kits and health insurance, but individual action is critical.
Here's what you need to know: Always get a blood test or RDT before taking antimalarials. If positive, complete the full ACT course from licensed pharmacies only. Prevent bites with insecticide-treated nets and repellents, and eliminate stagnant water where mosquitoes breed. Will you insist on a malaria test next time you or your child has fever, or risk worsening the drug resistance crisis?