By NGOZI Onyeakusi—Journalists across the country have been urged to ensure that fight against malaria is won through enlightening and educating Nigerians on how to prevent and combat the disease.

The National Coordinator, National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP) Dr Audu Mohammed while delivering his welcome address at the 2017 Third Quarter media chat held in Lagos said the role of the media remained paramount in the fight against malaria.

“Malaria is a problem that requires a multi- pronged approach and is our belief that the media is central to solving this age- long problem. It is for this reason that we invited you as partner to fight against malaria.

Presenting a paper on Malaria in Pregnancy, the Head, Advisory Communications and Social Mobilization (NMEP) Mrs Hohowo Uko urged Nigerians to ensure their surrounding were cleans as well sleep in mosquito treated tents.

She assured that Preventing and combating malaria would become a reality only when people were ready to abide by simple rules.

She regretted that people take malaria to be a ‘simple’ disease.

Dwelling on the topic ‘Malaria in Pregnancy’, Uko who spoke so passionately reiterated the need to prevent malaria in pregnancy for the sake of both the mother and the unborn baby.

Uko who said sometimes pregnant women might not know they had malarial highlighted the risk of malaria in pregnancy to include causing of anemia to mother, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth among other risks.