Prevalence of Malaria Parasites among Peoples in Fika and Potiskum Towns in Yobe State

Abstract

Malaria is a disease that is widely common in tropic and sub-tropic countries of the world. The disease is easily preventable, treatable and curable but remain a major public health problem in the sub-Saharan tropic majorly due to high level of Illiteracy, couple with negative attitude of Government. This study investigate the prevalence of malaria parasites among people in Fika and Potiskum towns in Yobe state. These was assessed using Rapid Diagnoses Test (RDT) and gold standard methods. The results revealed that the prevalence of malaria parasites are commonly among the age group of 0 – 12 years, on the gender bases however, indicated that female has the highest prevalence with the total of 3,838 for Fika General Hospitals and Dogo Nini ward Potiskum with 3,021 respectively. The study recommended that effective environmental sanitation, geared towards the clearing of bushes and gutters could substantially reduce the spread of vectors, hence reduce the incidence of malaria in endemic regions. Provision of adequate peadiatric drug formulations, targeted preventive interventions, and treatment guidelines for young infants. Other suggested measures include District Health Office and health extension workers should be involved and to increase mosquitoes nets distribution in the community, the District Health Office should also focus on reducing or eradicating malaria breading sites by self-help group through community participation.