*Photo: Professor Titus Olusi*
Despite advancement in medicine , malaria remains a global health problem with enormous devastating consequences particularly in tropical countries, including Nigeria.
A professor of Applied Parasitology at the Federal University of Technology Akure , FUTA Titus Olusi stated this while delivering the 196th Inaugural Lecture of the university with the title: Parasite‑Free World: Achievable or Wishful Thinking? on the 14th of April 2026.
According to Professor Olusi , in Nigeria and other places where the disease is endemic, “ It has been a menace to the health conditions of both rural and urban populations.” And When it is not treated promptly, “Malaria infection could progress to complications such as multi-organ failure in adults, severe anaemia, respiratory distress or cerebral involvement in children and eventual death if not properly managed.”
He said other studies also indicate that despite the remarkable achievements in the reduction of malaria mortality, the disease had remained the most common cause of morbidity and mortality. He also raised alarm that malaria-positive women recorded very low parasitemia and PCV, attesting to the endemicity of the disease and suggesting its involvement in maternal anaemia. The don said the devastating effect of malaria is also obvious due to the fact that the liver and kidneys are among the primary organs that are most impacted in malaria infection.
Professor Olusi cautioned against the assumption that a parasite‑free world is either achievable or desirable, stressing that parasites play critical roles in ecological balance and have significant socioeconomic implications. He explained that while selective elimination of harmful parasites is possible, total eradication is unrealistic and may even destabilize ecosystems.
He therefore recommended the prevention of malaria through the elimination of the vectors. He said investigation of the ecological factors favouring mosquito breeding, revealed that nearness to residence was a factor and such vectors should be eliminated. He however cautioned against the control of malaria vectors using synthetic chemical compounds which has been shown to have toxic residual effects, because of its accumulation into the food chain over time. He said experts have recommended and continue the search for environmentally friendly alternatives such as botanicals.
The don defined parasites as organisms that live in or on hosts, deriving benefits while often causing harm. He said: “Parasites and their hosts have co‑evolved over centuries, maintaining a delicate balance. They rarely seek to kill their hosts since their survival depends on maintaining access to nutrients and shelter. Tapeworms, for instance, are seldom fatal, illustrating this equilibrium.”
Professor Olusi underscored the socioeconomic burden of parasitic diseases, noting that infections compounded by nutritional deficiencies remain among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. He explained that parasites reduce workforce productivity, hinder educational attainment, and perpetuate cycles of poverty. Diseases such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and soil‑transmitted helminths impose billions of dollars in healthcare costs and lost economic output annually. He emphasized that industrialization, urbanization, and climate change are intensifying parasite transmission patterns, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
He added: “Parasites are not only biological stressors but also socioeconomic disruptors, with impacts extending from hospital wards to classrooms, farms, and workplaces.” Despite their reputation as enemies of the animal world, he pointed to the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis), still used in surgical procedures, as evidence of how parasites can be harnessed for human benefit. He urged researchers to explore innovative ways of turning parasitology into a tool for medicine, biotechnology, and sustainable development.
Olusi concluded that “while selective elimination of harmful parasites is possible, complete eradication is neither realistic nor ecologically desirable. A balanced approach that combines scientific innovation, public health strategies, and socioeconomic awareness is required to manage parasitic relationships responsibly.”
In her capacity as Chairman of the event, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji described the lecturer as an erudite scholar who has contributed immensely to research and academic development in his field of specialization.
She commended him on the cerebral delivery of the lecture, saying that the topic was apt given the need to safeguard human health and biodiversity while recognizing the socioeconomic impacts of parasitic diseases.