By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, has vowed to fight against the prevalence of fake malaria drugs across Nigeria.
Addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja, Chairman the committee, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah said “The prevalence of fake malaria drugs will be looked into to avoid further deaths recorded. We will carry out our oversight functions to ascertain the role of primary health care in the Roll Back Malaria Programme”.
The lawmaker said Nigeria is a country in need of protection from malaria, adding that “Its death toll from the disease makes up nearly a third of the world’s 619,000 malaria deaths a year”.
According to him, the committee was not unmindful of the challenges being faced by Nigerians in the fight against these ailments especially in the fight against the control of Malaria in the country which appear to defy solutions, stressing that the committee will work with relevant stakeholders in the fight against malaria in ensuring that monies budgeted for are used for the purpose for which they are made.
“According to the World Health Organization, Four African countries accounted for just over half of all malaria deaths worldwide: Nigeria top this list with 31.3%, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 12.6%, Tanzania (4.1%) and Niger (3.9%).
“I am aware that the WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030, which was updated in 2021, provides a technical framework for all malaria-endemic countries, including Nigeria. This document is expected to guide and support regional and country programmes on malaria control as they work towards control and elimination of malaria.
“The technical strategy include; Reducing malaria case incidence by at least 90% by 2030, Reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030, Eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030, and Preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free”, he stated.
He assured that the committee “will also ensure adequate implementation of legislations geared towards the eradication of malaria in the country. Where such legislations are not adequate, we will work to provide the needed amendment to such existing legislations for the general good of the Nigerian people.
“To this end we will work with all Ministries, Departments and Parasatals to also ascertain the level of awareness and sensitization created in Nigeria”.
He added, “the immediate past Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire was quoted during the 2023 world malaria day that an estimated 55 million cases of malaria with nearly 90,000 malaria deaths occur every year in Nigeria. He was also quoted to have said that the economic burden of malaria in Nigeria is estimated at $1.6b (N687bn) in 2022 and may increase to about $2.8bn (N2tn) in 2030. These statistics are scaring and there is the need for urgent attention. That is why the committee will partner with USAID, WHO, UNAID, Bill and Melinda gate Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Global Fund for Malaria control, Society for Family Health among other stakeholders in ensuring that malaria is eradicated in the country or reduced to the barest minimum.
“Our scope will also include the National Orientation agency, NAFDAC, NCDC, Ministry of Health among others.
In the area of HIV/AIDS, the WHO report that the disease remain a major global public health issue, having claimed over 32.9 and 51.3 million lives so far with ongoing transmission in all countries globally. The WHO has also expressed concern that some countries are reporting increasing trends in new infections which was previously on the decline globally.
“Nigeria is not left out of this trend. There is still no cure for HIV infection. However, with access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, including for opportunistic infections, HIV infection has become a manageable chronic health condition, enabling people living with HIV to live long and healthy lives.”
