The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the total elimination of malaria in the country.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, restated government’s resolve at the 2019 World Malaria Day, WMD, commemoration in Abuja on Thursday.
He also said the federal government was anxiously waiting for the result of pilot the RTSS/ASO1, the World’s first anti malaria vaccine, recently introduced in Malawi adding that the success of the vaccine would galvanise global efforts at eliminating malaria.
Meanwhile, the minister said while awaiting the result of the vaccine, government was not resting on its oars as more commitments were being made by the country with the help of its development partners to eliminate malaria.
He also held that every Nigerian irrespective of class had a role to play in the efforts to eradicate disease.
Adewole said: “We are fully committed to malaria elimination. We have developed innovative programmes that will increase access to funds for malaria programme implementation. Some of which include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the Save One Million Lives Project, and we are also soliciting for additional funding support for malaria programme,” he said.
“There are simple things that we can do like keeping our environment clean, sleep inside the Long lasting Insecticidal Nets, when feverish please go for a test and if positive ensure that you are treated with Artemisinin based Combination Therapy, ACT.
“Malaria is still a public health challenge. According to the World Malaria Report, Nigeria still accounts for 25 per cent of global malaria burden.
“We also account for 19 per cent of deaths from malaria. Though funding for malaria control has remained relatively stable since 2010. We need to improve on the level of our investment to achieve a reduction of at least 40 per cent in malaria case incidence and mortality rates globally by 2020.”
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“Let me inform you that we are fully committed to malaria elimination. We have developed innovative programmes that will increase access to funds for malaria programme implementation.
“Some of which include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the Save One Million Lives Project and we are also soliciting for additional funding support for malaria programme.
“In 2018, President Mohammadu Buhari approved an incentive funding of $18.5 million for procurement of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets, LLIN. We carried out LLINs replacement campaigns in eight States.
“In order to ensure malaria commodities availability, a national quantification exercise was conducted in conjunction with states and other partners,” he added.
Adewole further disclosed that the federal government was in the process of setting up an expert group comprising of researchers in the field of malaria to provide guidance on country strategies for malaria elimination.
He also said the process of Malaria Programme Review, MPR, a holistic review of malaria programme implementation in the country is on-going and the outcome would inform changes in strategies and interventions where necessary.
