AHOA CEO calls for sustained efforts to end Malaria in Africa
By Onu Okorie
Dr. Uzodinma Akujekwe Adirieje advocates increased funding, community participation and improved access to malaria prevention, testing and treatment.

Dr. Uzodinma Akujekwe Adirieje, Chief Executive Officer of Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), has called for sustained efforts to combat malaria in Africa, stressing the need for increased community participation, reliable funding and improved access to preventive and treatment services.

Adirieje expressed concern over the continued loss of young lives to malaria across the continent, despite the availability of preventive measures and effective treatments. He maintained that stronger collaboration among communities, healthcare workers and relevant stakeholders was essential to reducing malaria-related deaths.

According to him, every child saved from malaria demonstrates the importance of sustained investment and coordinated public health interventions.

He identified the consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, rapid diagnostic testing, effective treatment and the deployment of community health workers to remote and underserved areas as critical measures for controlling the disease.

The AHOA chief executive emphasised that malaria control programmes must be supported by sustainable funding and strong community ownership to ensure that progress is maintained even when public attention shifts to other health concerns.

He noted that communities play a vital role in malaria prevention and control, adding that locally driven initiatives, supported by adequate resources and accessible healthcare services, can contribute significantly to reducing the disease burden.

Community Participation Key to Malaria Prevention
Adirieje urged individuals and households to take practical steps to protect themselves and their communities against malaria.

He encouraged residents to sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets and help vulnerable members of their communities gain access to and properly use them.

He also advised households to remove stagnant water around their homes and surroundings to reduce mosquito breeding sites.

Furthermore, he called on members of the public to seek appropriate malaria testing before commencing treatment for fever, stressing the importance of accurate diagnosis in ensuring that patients receive the right care.

According to him, community health workers remain indispensable to malaria control efforts, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas where access to formal healthcare services may be limited.

He stressed that empowering these frontline workers and providing them with the necessary resources would improve early diagnosis, treatment and public awareness.

Malaria Control Linked to Sustainable Development Goal 3
The AHOA chief executive linked the fight against malaria to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people of all ages.

He noted that efforts to reduce malaria infections and deaths form an important part of the broader global commitment to improving public health and ending preventable suffering.

Adirieje maintained that sustained progress would require governments, healthcare institutions, civil society organisations and community leaders to work together in strengthening prevention programmes and ensuring access to effective diagnosis and treatment.

He further stressed that communities reporting no malaria deaths demonstrate the potential of coordinated, community-led interventions, while emphasising the importance of maintaining effective prevention and treatment services over time.

The AHOA chief executive called for continued investment in malaria control programmes, urging stakeholders not to allow funding gaps or declining public attention to undermine progress.

He emphasised that ending malaria requires persistence, solidarity and collective responsibility, with every household and community playing a role in protecting lives.

Adirieje’s message underscores the importance of sustained action against malaria, noting that consistent prevention, prompt testing, effective treatment and community participation are essential to building healthier communities and achieving the global goal of good health and well-being for all.