Lagos club raises malaria awareness through swimming

Lagos Country Club has mobilised swimmers and medical experts to raise awareness about malaria prevention through its annual Swim against Malaria competition, as Nigeria continues to record about 400,000 deaths from the disease yearly.

The ninth edition of the competition, held on December 21, brought together health professionals who emphasised the need for urgent action against the disease that particularly affects children.

The Chairman of the Swimming Section, Lagos Country Club, Mr. Ayodeji Osikoya, said the competition aims to create awareness about malaria prevention and management.

“We’re creating partnerships with companies, manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies to ensure we tackle the menace of malaria. This cannot be a one-off effort; we need to keep pushing and creating awareness,” Osikoya said.

Dr. Olubunmi Apata, an orthopaedic surgeon, warned that malaria remains deadly, particularly among children under five years and non-immune adults.

“Malaria can affect organs like the kidneys and brain, leading to cerebral malaria, coma, and even death. Getting proper medical diagnosis and treatment is crucial as the severity of malaria can be difficult to determine,” he said.

A member of the organising committee, Dr. Laja Adesina, called for increased government attention to malaria control.

“If we pay the same attention we gave to COVID-19 to malaria, we can contain it. It starts with the government, and then people will take responsibility to prevent malaria across the nation,” Adesina said.

He added that the disease affects productivity and the nation’s economy, emphasising the need for a multi-faceted approach including awareness, education, and community engagement.

The World Health Organisation survey revealed that Nigeria bears one of the highest burdens of malaria globally, with experts advocating the use of insecticide-treated nets and proper environmental sanitation as preventive measures.