Stories by Stanley Onyekwere
In furtherance to its effort towards eradicating malaria, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through it’s Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HS&ES) has taken a decisive and deliberate step to fight malaria head-on in the Territory.
To this end, the FCTA yesterday flagged off the unbundling and distribution of free malaria drugs and test kits.
Flagging off the initiative yesterday in Abuja, HS&ES Mandate Secretary, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said the move is a clear demonstration of FCTA’s resolve to kick malaria out of the FCT and Nigeria entirely.
Fasawe explained that that all public health facilities in the FCT have been stocked with free malaria test kits and drugs, with strict warnings against selling them, warning that “any facility caught selling these items will be sanctioned.”
She added that insecticide-treated nets have been provided for pregnant women and nursing mothers to help prevent malaria infection.
According to her, the initiative, which will run for two years, includes a continuous procurement plan to ensure an uninterrupted supply of malaria drugs and test kits throughout the program’s duration.
“Malaria remains a major cause of death among children under five and women. Only one thing causes malaria mosquitoes. If we can eliminate mosquitoes, we can eliminate malaria,” she stated.
Quoting a 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) survey, she revealed that 1.4 million residents of the FCT suffer from malaria annually, a significant portion of the territory’s estimated 5 to 6 million population.
The HS&ES Secretariat also cited a 2024 survey indicating that 60% of children presented in FCT hospitals had clear cases of malaria, stressing that prompt diagnosis and treatment will drastically reduce cases and deaths.
She however, noted that improved road infrastructure provided by FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has enhanced access to communities, especially during health emergencies.
She further commended Wike for paying the FCT’s counterpart funding last year, enabling participation in this year’s malaria intervention program.
Fasawe reiterated that malaria is preventable and treatable, urging all stakeholders to sustain the momentum in the fight against the disease.
“Today, we have taken a decisive and deliberate step to fight malaria head-on.
“The fight against malaria is a fight for life. Every five minutes, a child dies of malaria in Nigeria.
“Together, we can eliminate malaria and save countless lives”, she stressed.
Similarly, the Acting Permanent Secretary of HS&ES, Dr. Abubakar Ahmadu, emphasised that the program would significantly improve access to healthcare and reduce out-of-pocket expenses for residents.
Ahmadu urged healthcare practitioners to ensure the proper use of malaria kits and drugs to maximize the program’s impact.
Also speaking, Famkris Healthcare Initiative, an NGO partnering with the FCT Administration, Dr. Maureen Ugochuku described malaria as Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenge.
“The economic impact is devastating. Households spend scarce resources on treatment, while businesses suffer from lost productivity during malaria episodes,” she explained.
The Islamic Development Bank co-funded the malaria intervention program, further strengthening efforts to reduce the malaria burden in the FCT.
