Posted on: Tue 28-04-2020

A former member of the House of Representatives, Prince Ned Nwoko, has called on the Federal Government to intensify its fight against malaria by deploying the same urgent efforts and resources put into the ongoing fight against COVID – 19.

He also called on stakeholders to support the vision and mission of the Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation in the Malaria Eradication Project in Africa.

He said, “The treatment and fight against malaria in Africa and Nigeria from both the private and public sectors have been substantial. However, recent studies and statistics on the increasing ravaging effect of the pandemic on human existence have imperatively confirmed the urgent attention to rejig the commitment of both the private and public sectors towards ending the malaria scourge in Africa starting with Nigeria.

“The success stories and commitment of the nation-states particularly the developed countries in the fight against COVID-19 so far have all proved that the malaria pandemic which is considered more of a black man’s illness with a worrisome per cent of fatality rate, particularly in Africa and Nigeria, can be a thing of the past if half of the urgent and financial resources put in to fight against the recent attack of COVID -19 is similarly given to the fight against malaria pandemic.

“In line with the above and on the occasion of the commemoration of the year 2020 World Malaria Day, we wish to enjoin all relevant stakeholders in government, private individuals, the organised private sector and non-governmental organisations/donor agencies to team up and share in our vision and mission of the eradication of malaria in Africa starting with Nigeria by funding research grants $750,000 for ma.”

According to him, while malaria remained a leading cause of death among low-income countries and indeed one of the major public health threats to human existence in Africa, the continent accounted for 91 per cent of all malaria deaths and with an estimated 57.5million cases and 225,000 deaths per year.

“Nigeria accounts for 27 per cent of the total African malaria burden. Within Nigeria, malaria is a major cause of illness, death, poverty and a significant drain on the economy and well being of the nation. It is estimated that 50 per cent of Nigeria’s adult population will have at least one episode of malaria each year and children under five will have two to four attacks annually,” Nwoko stated.

Source: Punch

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