Special Olympics Nigeria to Hold 2016 World Malaria Day

Special Olympics Nigeria, has concluded plans to commemorate the World Malaria Day 2016 in Nigeria with the support of ExxonMobil,

The official theme for the day will be “End Malaria for Good”.

According to a statement from the Special Olympics Nigeria, attendees will be invited to take part in activities such as a unified soccer match, Family health forum (FHF), Health Talks with demonstrations, HIV and malaria tests plus provision of available treatment, voluntary counselling, and distribution of mosquito nets. This year the event will take place on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos at 9.00a.m.

World Malaria Day was established in May 2007 by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, (WHO). World Malaria Day, is an event that raises awareness on the need for continuous investment and support to various countries, in their efforts to control and eliminate Malaria as well as provide information and support where necessary for malaria. It is commemorated every year on April 25.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 3.2billion people are at risk of Malaria, resulting in over 198 million cases and some 755,000 deaths every year. It is also known that individuals living in poor countries are the most vulnerable to malaria. The statistics also showed that in 2013 alone, an alarming ’90 per cent of the world’s malaria deaths occurred in Africa and over 430,000 African children died before their fifth birthdays’.

SO Nigeria is currently implementing the ExxonMobil Malaria/HIV Initiative in Special schools/centres and regular schools in Lagos State.

The Initiative involves working with partners such as Grassroots Soccer, to teach athletes about malaria and HIV/AIDS using football.

This is an effective platform for bringing together and providing young Nigerians with relevant information about the prevention of Malaria and HIV/AIDS, treatment, as well as basic life-saving skills.
For nearly a decade ExxonMobil Foundation has been in the forefront of the fight against malaria in Nigeria. Through Mobil Producing Nigeria, ExxonMobil Foundation has directed almost $15 million dollars to malaria programmes throughout Nigeria, working with dedicated partners.

Special Olympics Nigeria is part of a worldwide movement (Special Olympics International) that is aimed at changing the misconceptions individuals have about people with intellectual disabilities (PWID).

“Our mission is to provide various sport trainings and athletics competitions in a variety of Olympic – type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing continuous opportunities to develop physical fitness and skills required to manage day to day life,” the SO Nigeria’s press statement concluded.