Key steps to prevent malaria and the medications you need on standby this rainy season.
Why Malaria Prevention Matters
Malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness in Nigeria, especially during the rainy season. Taking the right precautions can dramatically reduce your risk of infection.
Key Prevention Steps
- Sleep under treated mosquito nets — Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) are one of the most effective ways to prevent mosquito bites at night.
- Use mosquito repellents — Apply DEET-based repellents to exposed skin when outdoors in the evening.
- Eliminate standing water — Empty containers, gutters, and any objects that collect water around your home.
- Wear protective clothing — Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers reduce exposed skin.
- Indoor spraying — Use approved insecticide sprays inside your home.
Standby Medications
Talk to our licensed pharmacists about keeping artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) on standby. Early treatment within 24 hours of symptom onset is critical. Common options include Artemether-Lumefantrine (Coartem) and Artesunate-Amodiaquine combinations.
Important: Always take antimalarials under pharmacist or doctor guidance. Do not self-medicate without a confirmed diagnosis.
When to See a Doctor
If you experience fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, or vomiting, visit a clinic immediately for a malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT).