By Asmau Ahmad
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote as Chairman of a 16-member Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC).
He said the successful implementation of the NEMC agenda and savings from estimated economic burden of the disease would save Nigeria about N687 billion in 2022 and N2 trillion by 2030.
President Buhari said beyond improving the quality of life, health and well-being of Nigerians, the concerted strategy to tackle malaria had both public health as well as socio-economic benefits for Nigeria.
He said: “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.
While expressing concern that the age-long disease had remained a major public health challenge in Nigeria, he cited the World Health Organisation (WHO) report of 2021 on malaria.
According to the report, Nigeria alone accounts for 27 per cent of all cases of malaria and 32 per cent of deaths globally.
He said: “Malaria infection can cause severe disease and complication in pregnant women and lead to high rate of miscarriage.
“It is also responsible for a considerable proportion of deaths in infants and young children, with children under five years being the most vulnerable group affected.
“These are reasons we must not relent in fighting malaria,” he said.
Buhari explained that Dangote was chosen in recognition of his track record and passion for supporting initiatives on various health issues.
He expressed confidence that the Africa`s richest man would bring his outstanding achievements to help the country achieve its goal of malaria elimination.
The president said that a group of eminent personalities, who have also made their mark across all walks of life, had been selected to work in the council.
He added that the membership of the council reflected government’s commitment to significantly reduce the malaria burden in Nigeria.
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 acknowledged the contributions of the Global Fund, the United States Agency for International Development and the President’s Malaria Initiative.
President Buhari lauded the efforts of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, UNICEF, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, other implementing partners, and the private sector toward eradicating the disease.
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).
They said that the funding gap had impacted the implementation of the malaria programmes in Nigeria, adding that the country needs N1.89 trillion to reduce malaria prevalence and mortality by 2025.
The council members are: Shehu Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Vice President on Political and Economic Affairs, and Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Other are, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Hon. Abubakar Dahiru, Chairman, House Committee on AIDS, TB and Malaria, Dr Ehanire, Hon. Ekumankama, Mahmuda Mamman, Permanent Secretary, Federal Minister of Health.
Others include, Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Board of Directors, UBA, Folurunsho Alakija, CEO, Rose of Sharon Group, Herbert Wigwe (CEO), Access Bank, Femi Otedola, CEO Forte Oil and Hajiya Lami Lau, President, National Council of Women Societies.
Other members are, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Emertius Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Alhaja Rafiyat Sanni, National Amira, Federation of Muslim Women Nigeria (FOWAN) and Dr Perpetua Uhomoibhi, NEMC Secretariat/National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).
