Medical expert advises Yobe residents on clearing bushes, surroundings to lessen malaria burden

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Mohammed Kaka Misau

The residents of Yobe state have been advised to be very vigilant due to the increased prevalence of diseases associated to raining season.

Dr. Ben Egbo, the Medical Director of Potiskum Medical Center (PMC) who is a also a consultant Radiologist gave the advice in an interview with our Correspondent yesterday, having practiced in the state for more than 32 years, he has realized that cases of malaria and other water borne diseases like typhoid fever demonstrate increased prevalence during the months of July, August and September.

“Having practiced in this environment for the past 32 years, the period between July, August and September, there is usually a spike in the of cases of malaria and other water borne diseases, with resultant phenomenal increase in the morbidity and mortality “ he said.

The Medical Director pointed out that during those periods, most of the hospitals are usually inundated with patients.

“The months of July, August, September and October are peak periods of rainfall in our environment, it’s a period of malaria, it’s a period of illness, so I advise Yobeans to clear the bushes and their surroundings”, he said.

Dr. Ben further advised residents to try and use insecticide treated mosquito nets to reduce burden of malaria within those periods, thereby reducing the increased morbidity and mortality that we usually experience during these periods.

While stating that, health is wealth without which no society can progress, the Medical Director opined that in as much as the Yobe state government is doing a lot with regards to Health care delivery, there,s still a wide gap between what is needed and what is obtainable. More funding with commensurate monitoring and evaluation is needed, if this is done, a lot of Yobeans would not have to travel outside the shores of Nigeria for their health care needs.