Nigerian Medical Association has said Nigeria
loses N132bn to malaria annually through
treatment cost, prevention and loss of man-
hours.
The NMA President, Dr. Osahon Onabulele,
said this on Thursday on the occasion of the
World Malaria Day.
Onabulele, who stated this, in a statement,
also noted that the country accounted for a
quarter of all malaria cases in Africa.
He said, “We appeal for more strategic and
robust planning, effective partnership and
coordination with investment of more
resources into the campaign to eradicate
malaria.
“With continued commitment from states and
Federal Government as well as external
partners, we are convinced that a national
scale-up of malaria control interventions to
protect Nigerians and the world from malaria
is achievable.”
Onabulele also called for greater
commitment to research in order to develop
malaria vaccines, which, he added, “would
result in long term success in the global
campaign to defeat malaria”.
He added that there was a need for increased
development aid on national malaria control
programmes to ensure widespread population
access to life-saving and cost effective
interventions.
Calling for an increase in the distribution of
insecticide treated nets and the expansion of
the coverage of indoor residual spraying, the
NMA boss said there should be sustained
training of health workers and enlightenment
of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Osun State Government has
directed public hospitals in the state to
conduct free malaria tests on members of
the public.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr
Temitope Ilori, said this in Osogbo, on
Thursday, at a ceremony to mark the Malaria
Day.
Ilori, who addressed a briefing, explained
that a survey from the Federal Ministry of
Health showed that malaria prevalence in the
state was the lowest in the country.
According to her, the 41.6 prevalence of
malaria infection in Osun reflected the state
government’s intervention in malaria
prevention and cure.
She noted that the Rauf Aregbesola
administration had spent over N200m for
malaria control in the first quarter of this
year.
Ilori said some of the strategies employed by
the state in controlling of malaria included
“prompt diagnosis, medical treatment,
distribution of treated nets and residual
spraying.”
Ilori said, “Nigeria bears up to 25 per cent of
malaria diseases in Africa, thus contributing
immensely to the one million lives lost
yearly on the continent.”
Also, the Ebonyi State Government said
about 96,000 residents of the state were
affected annually by malaria.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr.
Sunday Nwangele, stated this while briefing
reporters in Abakaliki.
Represented by the state Director, Hospital
Services Management Board in the ministry,
Dr. Gabriel Onwe, the commissioner said the
state government had invested huge funds in
the Roll Back Malaria Programme in order to
tackle the scourge effectively.
Nwangele noted that the scourge had
contributed to 60 per cent of patients
admitted to various hospitals across the state.
In Kogi State, wife of the governor, Hajia
Halima Wada, on Thursday distributed 1,565
treated nets to various communities to
commemorate the Malaria Day.
The exercise, she said would mark the
beginning of drastic reduction in deaths
caused by malaria, especially among women
and children.
Wada enjoined women and children to use
the net as available statistics showed that
malaria was responsible for 30 per cent of
deaths in children and 10 per cent of deaths
in pregnant women.
She urged the people to use the nets in
order to prevent malaria.
Minister of Health, Prof. Oyebuchi Chukwu,
represented by the Director in the ministry,
Mr. Moody Ayo, on the occasion commended
the state government for its support for the
initiative.
In a related development, the United
Cement Company Limited on Thursday gave
free malaria treatment to over 500 villagers
from Akwa-Ikot-Effanga in Akpabuyo Local
Government of Cross River State.
The treatment was part of the company’s
corporate social responsibility towards the
welfare of the host community as well as its
commitments to the health care of its
employees and other stakeholders.
The company also inaugurated a 37-member
peer educator programme that would
monitor the wellbeing of its workers and
their immediate family.
The Corporate Affairs Director of the cement
manufacturing company, Mr. Ita Ayi, said,
“UniCem has as deliberate policy, committed
to reducing the impact of malaria through
direct intervention as well as collaborate with
relevant institutions working to control
malaria to achieve its objective.” source: 247nigerianewsupdate.com