Ɗangote Becomes Chairman Nigeria End Malaria Council

As Nigeria, like many African countries continue battling Malaria, the Federal government has on Tuesday inaugurated 16-member Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC) with Aliko Dangote as Chairman.

 While inaugurating the committee, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said implementation of the Council’s agenda and savings from estimated economic burden of the disease, would save Nigeria about N687 billion in 2022 and N2 trillion by 2030. 

He said this will also improve the quality of life, health and well-being of Nigerians.

‘‘Our inauguration today will therefore ensure that malaria elimination remains a priority on our agenda, with strong political commitment from leaders at all levels.

‘‘Additionally, the End Malaria Council will provide a platform to advocate for more funding to protect and sustain progress made so far by our country, and put us on a pathway to ending malaria for good,“ he said.

‘‘We must work together to reduce the unnecessary deaths attributable to malaria and ultimately improve the well-being of citizens.

 The President implored the council to ensure best practices and innovative strategies in achieving its mandate.

He thanked the Chairman of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, the Executive Secretary of ALMA, RBM Partnership in Nigeria for their continuous support to the Federal Ministry of Health and the malaria programme in particular.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the Global Fund, the United States Agency for International Development and the President’s Malaria Initiative.

In separate remarks, the Ministers of Health, Osagie Ehanire, and the Minister of State for Health, Joseph Nkama, said since 2010, Nigeria had recorded a continuous decline in malaria from 42 per cent in 2010, 27 per cent in 2015 to 23 per cent in 2018.

They attributed the decline to the thorough implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP).

 ‘‘The biggest challenge confronting us, which prevents the elimination of malaria to ensure a malaria-free nation in the shortest possible time is inadequate finances to fund the NMSP.

‘‘We are currently implementing NMSP of 2021 to 2025, with the intent to achieve a parasitic prevalence of less than 10 per cent and reduce mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1000 live births by the year 2025," he added.

”It will take about N1.89 trillion to implement this plan.

‘‘However, in the first year of its implementation we had an estimated deficit of over N150 billion and in 2022, we already have a deficit of over N170 billion.’’

In his remarks, Dangote thanked the president and all members of the Council for entrusting him with the enormous responsibility, pledging to work hard to achieve the mandate.

He said that the appointment has resonates his current role as the Nigerian Ambassador for Malaria.

 

 

 

NAN