By Bunmi Yekini
When a child dies from malaria in a remote village, or a young woman quietly battles infertility caused by waterborne disease, the question shouldn’t always be: What is the government doing?Instead, it should be: What can I do?
That’s the powerful message from Professor Wellington Oyibo, Director of the Centre for Transdisciplinary Research in Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (CTRMNTD), who is urging Nigerians to look inward, take personal responsibility, and work collectively to end malaria and other poverty-driven diseases.
Speaking passionately during a virtual meeting with members of the Health Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) on July 4, 2025, Prof. Oyibo challenged old mindsets of dependency and called for grassroots-led solutions backed by innovation, community action, and collaboration across sectors.
“We must all begin to ask: ‘What can I do?’ That’s how transformation starts, not just with policies, but with people,” he said.
He decried Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported malaria commodities, despite its population size and existing capacity to manufacture insecticide-treated nets, diagnostics, and medications locally.
“Why should we still depend on imported solutions when we have the human and structural resources to produce locally? We can turn this around to create jobs and build resilience in our health system,” Prof. Oyibo said.
Highlighting the Centre’s multidisciplinary approach, he explained that CTRMNTD integrates science, humanities, environmental engineering, health economics, and even literature to address the complex dimensions of malaria and NTDs, while combating misinformation that fuels their spread.
A major thrust of the Centre’s work, he said, is innovation, developing and deploying new tools to mobilise communities toward evidence-based practices, such as testing before treatment and consistent use of mosquito nets.
“Malaria is no longer evenly distributed across Nigeria. Treating without diagnosis is wasteful and potentially dangerous,” he warned. “Without at least 90% uptake of preventive and diagnostic measures, we will not see real change. Forty to sixty percent is not good enough.”
He expressed concern over the slow adoption of rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs), especially in urban areas like Lagos, where malaria prevalence has significantly reduced.
“RDTs are accurate, affordable, and can help prevent unnecessary use of antimalarial drugs. Yet, our health system remains stuck in presumptive treatment,” he noted.
Prof. Oyibo also spotlighted the silent burden of neglected tropical diseases on women, citing the example of female genital schistosomiasis, which he said contributes to infertility, stillbirths, and other reproductive health challenges.
“It is unjust that women and girls suffer lifelong health consequences simply because they farm or swim in infested waters. This isn’t about risky behaviour. It’s about exposure and neglect,” he stated.
He urged for a culture shift towards research and policy-making that reflects the lived experiences of vulnerable populations, adding that the Centre is currently conducting a comparative study on microscopy and RDTs, with a focus on provider behaviour and patient preferences.
Prof. Oyibo advocated for mass mobilisation and intersectoral collaboration, especially in rural communities, where malaria transmission remains high due to poor infrastructure and agricultural exposure.
“We need partnerships, across health, media, agriculture, and most importantly, we need people to take ownership,” he said. “Don’t just wait for the government or donors. Ask yourself: ‘What can I do?’ That’s how change starts.”
He concluded with a message of hope, calling on health professionals, journalists, and citizens alike to act as change agents.
“With shared responsibility and a united front, we can not only roll back malaria, we can roll it out of Africa,” he said.