FG, Saraki, Rotary, pharmacists seek funding, improved data to fight malaria

We need to access $300m bond to fight disease, says Senate President

As the world marked Malaria Day yesterday, the Federal Government, Senate President Bukola Saraki, pharmacists and health stakeholders have suggested ways to reducing and in fact ending the disease in the country.

The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole called for increased support from local and international partners to assist the government in combating the malaria challenge in the country.

Adewole, who stated this yesterday in Abuja during a Malaria Public Sector Stakeholders meeting on Dissemination of the results of the MAPS-C Project, pointed out that the country is malaria-endemic, though the burden is gradually reducing.

Saraki yesterday reiterated the Senate’s call for the Federal Government to fast track access to the $300million malaria bond. The Senate President cited the March 2017 Senate Motion, entitled: “Urgent need for the Federal Government to access a $300 million Malaria Bond through the Innovative Financing for Malaria Prevention and Control Project (IMPACT),” which called on the Federal Government to fast-track access to the $300 million malaria bond by the Global Fund to fight malaria, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and tuberculosis.

In Kwara State, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) Chairman, Samuel Babatunde said at their sensitisation programme in Omu Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area that it had observed that all other measures used to eradicate malaria in our society as expensive as some of them are, have not totally given us any breakthrough on the issue.

In Abia State, the Guild of (private) Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD) described the disease as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality especially among pregnant women and children.

The National President of GMLD, Chioma Austin Onuorah, argued that early and effective diagnosis as well as treatment of malaria is a cornerstone of malaria control programmes.

Rotary District 9110 Nigeria joined the minister of health to urge collaborative efforts of both private and public sector to tackle the scourge against malaria.
Public Health Specialist and Chairman, Malaria Elimination Committee in charge of Lagos and Ogun State, Dr. Dele Balogun, emphasised the need for continued commitment for malaria prevention and control.

Balogun said malaria has killed millions of people across the world, with larger chunk of deaths from underdeveloped countries.