By Chioma Umeha
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
has urged the Federal Government to adopt and implement strategies that would
aid a conducive investment climate for more private sector participation in
health financing.
Mr Babatunde Ruwase, the President of LCCI, made
the appeal at a forum on celebration of World Malaria Day held in Lagos.
The programme was organised by LCCI in
collaboration with the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG).
The World Malaria Day is celebrated on April 25
annually to create awareness about the scourge of malaria in Nigeria and across
the globe and suggest recommendations for possible solutions and controls.
Ruwase advocated for more private sector
participation and funding of the sector, saying government and international
donor agencies alone might not be able to finance estimated malaria budget.
“With $2.7 billion invested globally to fight
malaria in 2016, this represents less than 41 per cent of the estimated $6.5
billion needed annually till 2020 in order to reach the 2030 global malaria
targets.
“In 2016, there were 216 million cases of malaria
in 91 countries, five million more than the 211 million cases reported in 2015.
“Malaria deaths in Africa accounted for 407,000
cases out of the global number of 445,000 in 2016, according to WHO
statistics,” he said.
Ruwase said that WHO report revealed that pregnant
women, infants, children under five years, patients with HIV/AIDS and mobile
population were more susceptible to contract malaria.
He said that national strategies and programmes
were required to protect these population groups from malaria infection.
According to him, the situation calls for special
attention, adding that governments must show more commitment to the fight
against malaria.
“We need innovative ways and means in enhancing
our capabilities in ‘beating malaria,” he said.
Prof Akpoveta Susu, Chairman, Advisory Board of
the Nigeria Prize for Science, said that the collaboration between LCCI and
NLNG was to support the attainment of a malaria-free and healthy population
that would deliver innovation and productivity needed to develop the country.
He said that the Nigeria Prize for Science was established
in 2004 by NLNG to help build a better Nigeria.
“NLNG focus was to use the platform of the prizes
to spur outstanding works in scientific research and literary works in the
country.
“I can say that the Nigeria Prize for Science has
placed great scientific innovations on the front burner in the country
prompting other remarkable research works apart from the Malaria research
works,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to explore the possibility
of commercial production of the research findings and also create avenues that
promote optimum utility, thereby realising the main reason for establishing the
prize.
According to him, the Nigeria Prize for Science,
NLNG and advisory board is set to find solutions to the nation’s power
challenges through scientific research works.
“The 2018 competition will be focusing on
“Innovations in Electric Power Solutions,” he said.
Susu said that the winner for Nigeria Prize for
Science would get $100,000, adding that the competition was open to scientist
and researchers worldwide to assist in finding solutions to Nigeria’s
problem.Provide Right Atmosphere For Private Health Financing
