By Fauziyyah Hadi
It often starts casually, a headache, body weakness, maybe a fever. In many Nigerian homes, the response is automatic: “It’s just malaria.” A few tablets are taken, sometimes without testing, and life goes on.
But beneath this familiarity lies a silent crisis that is draining finances, disrupting daily life, and in severe cases, claiming lives.
In Kano, malaria has become so common that its danger is frequently underestimated.
Health workers, pharmacists, parents, and students say the illness is far more serious than many people believe.
A working nurse at Bayero University's Clinic, who pleaded anonymity during her interview with our reporter explained that malaria can quickly progress into severe illness, especially among vulnerable groups.
According to her, children face the highest risk. “Malaria is deadly and can be very severe,” she said, adding that “Children are most at risk of dying from malaria.”
She, further stated that repeated malaria episodes can lead to serious complications in children, while pregnant women are also highly vulnerable a reason preventive drugs such as Fansidar are routinely prescribed during pregnancy.
While commenting on the development in an exclusive interview with our reporter, a Kano-based Pharmacist, Abdulrahman BMT, said the consequences of treating malaria casually is dangerous.
The pharmacist noted that many patients arrive at drug stores convinced they already know what is wrong with them.
“Most people come to buy malaria drugs without testing,” he said. “They already believe they know the symptoms.”
According to him, one of the most common mistakes is stopping medication once symptoms reduce.
“They take one dose, and once they feel better, they stop. Later, the malaria comes back stronger,” he explained.
A Growing Financial Burden
Beyond the health risks, malaria is quietly draining household finances. For many families, treatment has become a recurring expense.
Baba Usman, a parent, said malaria treatment now takes a significant portion of his monthly income.
“I spend an average of fifty thousand naira monthly on malaria treatment,” he said, explaining that the cost increases depending on how many family members fall ill.
"In some cases, treatment does not end after the first round, " he noted.
“My wife once took treatment, but after five days she relapsed and was admitted,” he added.
Accordingly, specialists say such relapses are common when treatment is delayed or incomplete, leading to higher medical costs and prolonged illness.
Malaria on Campus
Among students, malaria is often seen as an unavoidable part of campus life.
Kifaya, a student, said frequent mosquito exposure and academic stress make falling sick common.
“Very often I have malaria episodes,” she said. “I’m exposed to mosquitoes, and academic stress doesn’t help.”
She relies mostly on the school clinic for treatment but admits the illness has disrupted her academic routine.
“I’ve missed lectures because I was too sick to leave my bed,” she said.
Experts Warn: Malaria Is Not ‘Ordinary’
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in sub-Saharan Africa, with children under five and pregnant women most at risk.
Similarly, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned that self-medication, delayed testing, and incomplete treatment significantly contribute to malaria-related deaths in the country.
Prevention Still Overlooked
Despite repeated warnings, preventive measures are often ignored by the public.
In this regard, the health professionals emphasised the role of sanitation in reducing mosquito breeding.
“Stagnant water harbors mosquitoes,” said BUK Clinic nurse. “Keeping the environment clean is very important.”
Moreover, Pharmacist Abdulrahman also stressed the importance of mosquito nets, describing them as one of the most effective preventive tools.
“Mosquito nets are very important, but many people don’t use them because of heat,” he said.
Malaria’s familiarity has made it dangerous. Because it feels common, it is treated lightly. But for families spending tens of thousands of naira, students missing lectures, and children facing life-threatening complications, malaria is far from ordinary.
What many still dismiss as “just malaria” is quietly draining Nigerian homes one untreated fever at a time.
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