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Omolade Okwa

Lagos State University

Omolade Olayinka Okwa is presently a Professor of Parasitology at Lagos State University, Nigeria. She has a PhD in Parasitology (1997), an MSc in Cellular Parasitology (1992), and a BSc (Hons) Zoology (1990) all from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She teaches parasitology at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She was a recipient of a Commonwealth fellowship supported by British Council tenable at the Centre for Entomology and Parasitology (CAEP), Keele University, United Kingdom between 2004 and 2005. She was awarded an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at the same university from 2005 to 2007. She has been an external examiner to the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ibadan, MSc programme between 2010 and 2012. She is a member of the Nigerian Society of Experimental Biology (NISEB), Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN), Science Association of Nigeria (SAN), Zoological Society of Nigeria (ZSN), and is Vice Chairperson of the Organisation of Women in Science (OWSG), LASU chapter. She served as Head of Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Lagos State University from 2007 to 2010 and 2014 to 2016. She is a reviewer for several local and international journals such as Unilag Journal of Science, Libyan Journal of Medicine, Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, and Annual Research and Review in Science. She has authored 45 scientific research publications in local and international journals, 8 scientific reviews, 4 books, and 3 book chapters, which includes the books “Malaria Parasites” and “Malaria” which are IntechOpen access publications.

2books edited

3chapters authored

Latest work with IntechOpen by Omolade Okwa

Helminthiasis is a disease caused by parasitic helminths such as flukes, tapeworms, filarial worms, and nematodes. These parasites cause diseases that pose serious health problems, especially in developing countries of the world. Helminthiasis is a reflection of poor socio-economic conditions, which impacts on the social life of victims and economic development. Parasitic helminths live in a variety of habitats in their hosts and are far more widespread than we think. Gastrointestinal helminths are the largest group that affects their host directly through feacal-oral routes. This book not only provides insight into antihelminthic resistance in livestock but it also discusses soil transmitted helminths in pregnant women and children and filariasis as a debilitating disease. The book covers the prevention and control of helminthiasis of which adequate diagnosis is crucial. This book helps to close the information gap on helminthiasis, which has otherwise been classified as belonging to the group of neglected diseases and overlooked as a serious cause of morbidity and mortality of humans and domestic animals. The information in this book proposes that helminthiasis needs more global attention.

Helminthiasis

Helminthiasis

Edited by Omolade Okwa

Books edited

Malaria Parasites

Malaria Parasites

Edited by Omolade Okwa

Chapters authored

Malaria, a Pending Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa

By Omolade O. Okwa

Part of the book: Malaria Parasites

Nipping the Malaria Vectors in the Bud: Focus on Nigeria

By Omolade Olayinka Okwa

Vector control is an important component of malaria control. Human malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease which causes up to a million deaths a year and is estimated to infect over 212 million people worldwide. It is present in 97 countries covering half of the world’s population. Around 90% of deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Malaria is the most widespread mosquito-borne disease in Nigeria where it has a holoendemic status. Of the four malaria parasites in Africa, Plasmodium falciparum is the most common malaria species, while Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto is the predominant vector in Nigeria. This review discusses the challenges to control malaria in Nigeria which gives a larger picture of sub-Saharan Africa. These challenges include the adaptability of the anopheles mosquito to the environment, their diversity, and their different vectorial capacities. Despite all the efforts to control malaria, it is still a public health challenge in Nigeria and in sub-Saharan Africa. However, one of the basic challenges is the source which are the diverse breeding sites. This problem is enhanced by malariogenic activities of humans. Salient recommendations for vector control by nipping the malaria vector in the bud were identified and advocated.

Part of the book: Malaria

Introductory Chapter: Helminthes Diversity - Focus on Nematodes

By Omolade Olayinka Okwa

Part of the book: Helminthiasis

Related collaborators

Guido Favia

University of Camerino , Italy

Hiroko Asahi

National Institute of Infectious Diseases , Japan

Rajeev Tyagi

University of South Florida , United States of America

Catherine Braun-Breton

University of Montpellier , France

Valerie Choumet

Institut Pasteur , France

Alfonso Marzal

University of Extremadura , Spain

Tejram Sahu

National Institutes of Health , United States of America

John Igweh

Delta State University , United States of America

Neeraj Garg

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

Punit Prabha

Jawaharlal Nehru University , India