Malaria continues to be a major cause and consequence of community poverty and inequity with a high burden in Oranyan community, Ibadan, Nigeria. This intervention therefore designed in commemoration of the 2017 World Malaria Day.
We conducted a situation analysis of Oranyan community. Advocacy visit, sensitization and malaria education (Video-documentary) were thereafter carried out with community leaders and other stakeholders. We also engaged in environmental sanitation where community members and other volunteers were mobilized in cleaning their drainages, cutting of grasses, sweeping of surroundings, disinfecting drainages as well as repacking of wastes. Incentive of Insecticide Treated Net was provided to the community members who participated in the sanitation and procedures of its use were reiterated. Finally, malaria screening was provided to community members with symptoms of malaria and positive individuals were treated with free medication.
A total of 5431 community members were reached with this intervention. Many (54.9%) were females and 24.9% were U-5 children. It was observed that entire Ward 3 of the community was not properly planned and the whole community had no refuse dump or waste collection site, as well as lack proper aerial spacing between houses. In the same vein, it was observed that most houses do not have toilets, bathrooms, proper sullage, waste water and fecal disposal systems. Hence, a nearby river served as both sewage disposal and refuse dump site for the entire community. It was also stated by community members that a borehole existed which was not functioning as at the time of the intervention programme, leaving the entire community with well as the only source of water supply. A total of 504 community members were eventually tested and 23.1% were positive and treated appropriately.
We are currently mobilizing for resources to enable us provide this community with a well-structured lavatory and incinerator.