In a bid to combat the rampant spread of malaria in Nigeria, Rep. Amobi Ogah, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on malaria. His plea comes as the nation observes the 2023 World Mosquito Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the global impact of mosquitoes.
With the theme for this year’s commemoration being “Fighting the World’s Deadliest Killer – the Mosquito,” Ogah emphasized the urgent need to eliminate these disease-carrying insects, considering the grave threat they pose to global health.
Recognizing the challenges faced by Nigerians in their battle against malaria, Ogah assured the public that his committee would collaborate closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure that funds allocated for the fight against malaria are utilized judiciously.
Highlighting the alarming statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), Ogah stated that four African countries accounted for over 50% of worldwide malaria deaths. Nigeria leads this distressing list, responsible for 31.3% of the deaths, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 12.6%, Tanzania with 4.1%, and Niger with 3.9%.
Underscoring the need for a concerted effort to eradicate malaria, Ogah urged the Federal Government to prioritize the eradication of mosquitoes by engaging key stakeholders in the health sector. He expressed his disappointment with the government’s lack of attention to this critical issue and stressed the committee’s commitment to addressing the prevalence of counterfeit malaria drugs to prevent further fatalities.
Malaria has long been a public health crisis in Nigeria, and it is imperative that the government takes decisive action to protect the population from this deadly disease. By declaring a state of emergency on malaria and investing in comprehensive prevention and treatment measures, Nigeria can make significant progress in eliminating this public health threat.
NAN
