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Nigeria Loses N132bn Annually To Malaria by sambas: 11:40am On Apr 30, 2013 |
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 |
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