... Call For Local Production Of Treated Nets,
Antimalarial Medicines
BY
Lagos
To reduce the economic loss of malaria which is
put at $2.4 billion yearly, federal government has said it is imperative to
begin production of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs), anti-malaria
medicine in the country and increase research on the disease.
Stating this was the Minister of Health, Prof
Isaac Adewole, who sought collaboration with the Organised Private Sector (OPS)
in the local production of LLINs, anti-malaria medicine in the country and
increase malaria research, saying that this will reduce the disease burden.
Adewole said that the OPS collaboration has become
imperative given that over 30 million insecticide treated net used in Nigeria
yearly as well as over 80 per cent of the anti-malaria medicine in the country
are imported, hence the need to look inward and get the medications
manufactured locally.
Speaking during the launch of the Private Sector
Engagement Strategy against Malaria (PSESM) document in Lagos being championed
by the Dangote Foundation, the Minister of Health, appealed to the private
sector operators to support government in its efforts to achieve the task of eliminating
Malaria by 2020, which is tagged, ‘Malaria to Zero.’
He stressed that the government alone cannot
succeed without the assistance of the corporate firms in achieving the 2020
target.
He said: “We have engaged in series of advocacy
which has yielded results, but advocacy is not enough, many people would have
been beaten before coming under the insecticide treated net we need research
and we realized we can’t do it alone, that is why we are engaging the private
sector.
“We need their discipline and efficiency and in
the local production of the medicine because that can generate employment in
the country.
However, the Minister explained that over the last
decade, substantial progress has been made in the control of malaria in the
country through significant investment from government and development
partners. Also supply and distribution of anti-malaria commodities has
increased nationwide.
According to Adewole, over 100 million
long-lasting Insecticide treated Net were distributed within the last seven years
to protect over 28 million out of the 33 million households in Nigeria.
In his remark, Chairman of the Foundation Aliko
Dangote lamented the effect of the malaria scourge to saying “in addition to
direct costs to business and the economy, it indirectly damages the economy
through the deterioration of human capital, the loss in saving, investments and
tax revenues. This is clearly too high of a cost to society and to the
economy.”
Dangote stated that Nigeria’s transition from
malaria control to elimination provides a compelling opportunity for Nigeria to
reflect on its aspirations, take stock on progress and inspire bold, innovative
approaches and complementary public private partnerships to disrupt poor
malaria outcomes.
He added that the private sector can play an
important role in mobilizing domestic resources, capabilities, innovation and
advocacy platforms to catalyse progress in achieving Nigeria’s malaria
pre-elimination agenda.
As a champion in the private sector active
participation in achieving the task of eradicating malaria from Nigeria,
Dangote who is the National Malaria Ambassador said he was committed to using
his conglomerate, the Dangote Group of companies, as an example of what
companies in Nigeria should be doing.
To this effect, he announced that there will be
“malaria education for my staff at all of our business locations, distribution
of prevention tools and supplies to our workers in the factories and in the
fields.”
Dangote said he co-founded the Private Sector
Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN), which is focused on mobilizing the private
sector, across one coordinated platform, to leverage private sector
capabilities, advocacy, innovation and resources to complement government
efforts in advancing health outcomes.
Other prominent people he had brought on board
according to him includes Mr. Bill Gates and other prominent business leaders
in Nigeria including Mr. Jim Ovia (Co-chair), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede
(founder, Access bank), Mr. Herbert Wigwe (CEO, Access bank), Dr. Muhammad Ali
Pate (Co-chair), Mrs. Sola David Borha and other companies have joined me in
support of PHN.
One of the foremost entrepreneur therefore called
on more private sector leaders and companies to join the ‘malaria to zero’
campaign to pool resources to have impact at scale that is greater than
underlying corporate initiatives against malaria.
Dangote pledged that he would continue to use his
voice to create awareness on the fight against Malaria, adding that he had
recently accepted an invitation from Bill Gates and Ray Chambers to join them
on the End Malaria Council.
The Strategy document titled: “Engaging the
Private Sector to Eliminate Malaria in Nigeria was unveiled by all stakeholders
including captains of industries, representatives of health organization
agencies, Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) as well as NGOs in the health
industry.
The document highlights the problems of malaria
with statistics and how the private sector can collaborate in eradicating the
disease. Its mission is to provide equitable, comprehensive, cost effective,
efficient and quality malaria control services ensuring transparency,
accountability, client satisfaction, community ownership and partnership.
Participants at the unveiling ceremony agree that
the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2014-2020) is a good one, but stressed
that the gains of the past years must be sustained.
They warned that care must be taken to ensure
transition from malaria control to elimination in the country, which of course
could only be achieved with adequate collaboration between government and
private sector.
Experts Canvass Strong Local Manufacturing Base
For Pharmaceutical Products
