Nigeria, Feb. 17 -- Kabir Abubakar ignored the early signs of malaria in a child under his care, Safiyanu Idris, hoping the illness would pass without treatment.

Mr Abubakar had recently learnt that anti-malaria medicine at the community primary healthcare centre in Yabo, Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State, was no longer free. He feared that the treatment would cost more than he could afford, and so, he chose to wait it out.

"Many times, mild symptoms of malaria in children fade without treatment. The sickness in their body just goes away by itself, and I don't have to worry about anything," Mr Abubakar said in Hausa.

"I believed it was one of those episodes."

But Mr Abubakar was wrong. In a few days, Safiyanu's symptoms worse...