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Tag: anti-malaria

  • Health minister, perm sec get 72 hours to explain unaccounted $300m anti-malaria funds

    Health minister, perm sec get 72 hours to explain unaccounted $300m anti-malaria funds

    • House threatens perm sec with arrest

    The House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis yesterday gave the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, and the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Daju Kachollom, 72 hours to appear before it.

    They are to explain the alleged misappropriation of $300 million meant for the funding of malaria since 2021.

    The committee resolved that the permanent secretary should be arrested, if she fails to honour the summons, having failed to appear before the committee after three invitations.

    The minister and the permanent secretary are also to answer questions on allegations of denying indigenous manufacturers of insecticidal nets from participating in the contract for the procurement of the product and other related products.

    Committee Chairman Amobi Godwin Ogah, who read the resolutions, expressed the displeasure of his members about the failure of the permanent secretary to appear before the committee.

    The chairman expressed consternation that the cost for the procurement of antimalarial commodities by the ministry was over $3 million.

    He said: “Malaria is now an epidemic in Nigeria. The government has always wanted to help the people, but most times the civil servants are our problem. This money has been made available since 2021. We have been inviting the permanent secretary. This is the third time we are inviting her to come and explain to us what has happened.

    “Have they used the money? If they have not used the money, where is the money? It is a matter of simple explanation. But they have been running away, calling all manner of people to talk to us.

    “But we are here to defend Nigerians. We were elected to represent our people. Nigerians cannot continue to die of malaria, even when government has made every necessary effort to see that eradication is being achieved by 2030.

    “The National Assembly will no longer tolerate the attitude of civil servants taking the parliament for a ride. Enough is enough. We were elected by our people to represent them. We were elected to talk for them and defend them.

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    “We are talking about a disease that has turned to an epidemic. We will not hesitate to invoke our constitutional right to compel the permanent secretary be arrested, if she fails to honour the summons.”

    Ogah said the committee received a petition, few weeks ago, from Seasons Law Firm on behalf of Rosies Textile Mills Limited.

    The committee chairman said the petitioners accused the Ministry of Health and the permanent secretary of denying indigenous manufacturers of insecticidal nets from participating in the contract for the procurement of insecticidal nets and other related products.

    He said: “Nigeria borrowed $100 million from Islamic Bank, which was approved by National Assembly in 2021. Out of the $100 million, $10 million was the grant; and another $200 million was borrowed from World Bank in the same year for Impact Project (Malaria Financing Agreement), making it a total of $300 million.

    “The resolution by the National Assembly is that local content must be prioritised to enable local manufacturers. But the ministry went ahead to contract the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to do the procurement process at the cost of over $3 million for the purchase of anti-malaria commodities.

    “Honourable members, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is clear that the National Assembly has to intervene on this issue. Therefore, (we have) to forestall this matter ending in litigation, to mediate and bring the parties involved to a roundtable with a view to resolving the matter amicably.”

    Other ministers at the event included Senator Abubakar Bagudu (Budget and Economic Planning), Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development), and Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Minister of State for Labour and Employment).

  • Anti-malaria drug Publitem makes its debut in Nigeria

    The world anti-malaria premium drug Publitem, an Artemether-Lumefantrine,    made by Astamed Healthcare’s factory in India, is now in Nigeria.

    It has  80/480mg and 15mg/90mg powder for oral suspension.

    At its launch in Lagos, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) President Ahmed Yakasai said the anti-malarial drug was a good Artemether Combination Therapy (ACT) as chloroquine has been replaced with a double combination of Artemether-Lumefantrine.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Artemether-Lumefantrine has become the first line of treatment.

    Yakasai said when Nigeria has more of this brand of ACTs, the high cost of anti-malarial products would crash.

    “This is why we hope more local pharma manufacturers can come into the market. I was privileged to visit Publitem producer, Astamed Healthcare’s factory in India and I can tell you it is world-class. I think Publix Pharmaceuticals Nigeria has done well and should be commended for taking the initiative to bring this into the country. I understand that its manufacturing indigenously is being worked out,” he stated.

    Publix Pharmaceuticals Chairman, Chief Frank Owelle, said Nigerians should be rest assured that the drug is genuine as it has an additional security popularly known as Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) label, which allows people to verify the authenticity of the product.  ‘’All the patient or consumer needs to do is to scratch off the label to reveal a unique 12-digit number. And send to a number. Once activated, it gives automatic feedback on whether the code is valid or not within seconds,’’ he said.

    Owelle said  his veering into pharmaceutical business was not driven by profit motive but to save lives and help humanity. “We are doing what we are doing not because we have seen an opportunity to make money; that is far from the truth. I felt there was a need for us to promote good health in the society. I recall an experience I had as a student when my school mate died just like that because of ignorance and lack of access to medicare. From that day, I vowed that I must do something to save the health sector,” he said,

    Owelle added: “With this introduction, Publix Pharmaceuticals is set to take the battle against malaria further and collaborate with all stakeholders in the fight against this recalcitrant scourge. It is perfecting plans to institute a programme that would give out anti-malaria solutions to people free starting with three states—Anambra, Abuja and Lagos.

    “People die of malaria every day and I will want everyone to fight against this scourge. Our aim is to achieve a malaria-free Nigeria by 2020. I am calling on other people who are genuinely interested in ending this scourge not to wait for the government, but do their best.”

    Publix Pharmaceutical Director, Akindele Davies said Publix Pharmaceuticals is a young but very ambitious company that is not focused only on profit, but also seeks to contribute to the provision of affordable quality healthcare to Africans.

    He said the company is concerned that Nigerians, especially children, who are dying daily from the malaria scourge, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which estimates that 3.3 billion people in 106 countries and territories globally are at risk of being afflicted with malaria.

  • Anti-malaria campaign hits schools

    The fight to eradicate malaria received a boost in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as ExxonMobil took the campaign to secondary schools.

    Working alongside its partners, National Basketball Association (NBA) and Africare, students for days were fought on how disease burden in the country could be drastically reduced through effective engagement of needed resources, habits and personnel.

    The groups use sports (basketball) and other learning skills to train students across the nation’s capital on how various strategies could be used not only to sensitise, but defeat ailments that have snuffed lives out of many citizens, and currently constitute threats to the lives of others.

    Malaria was highlighted at the event as one of the ailments receiving attention for elimination. The project is being funded by ExxonMobil, while NBA offers the sports component.

    Africare, a partner that works on health component of the project, has contributed through distribution of “thousands” of mosquito nets and conducted malaria tests for many people across the country, said Country Director, Africare Nigeria Dr. Orode Doherty.

    Doherty said the project was yielding desired results third year after it was launched, and that it would be expanded to all parts of the country.

    “Africare is working in 15 states in Nigeria. So, as an organization, scalability is not an issue for us. We are already working in multi-million dollar opportunities. So, scaling is not an issue. We are ready to go. We are working with the ministry. We’ve shown them what we are doing. this is an opportunity for them to come in and see what we do with this children so that we can expand it to other schools in the country, target children who are out-of-school, targeting children who are in IDP camps, children who do not have opportunity to be educated among others,” she stated.

    Director of malaria project, Africare, Dr Patrick Adah, said the organization implements different malaria projects in the country and helps to coordinate those projects in various locations in the country.

    “Malaria is endemic. What that means is that the disease is with us here. Over the years, the disease has been ravaging, killing so many children, and even adults in a very large proportion. The Federal Ministry of Health under the auspices of the National Malaria Programme, with all the malaria partners in the country are putting efforts together to ensure that we burden of malaria, and even to eliminate malaria in the country. But, because the disease is endemic, it takes a long time and serious efforts to ensure that malaria is completely eliminated. But, over the years, efforts are being made to control malaria, and we are making progress,” he said.

    The event featured former NBA player, KelennaAzubuike and other notable figures in basketball in the country.

  • Osun takes anti-malaria campaign to towns, villages

    Osun takes anti-malaria campaign to towns, villages

    The Osun State government has taken its ongoing campaign against malaria to towns and villages in order to stem the spread of the sickness across the state. As part of activities marking the 2016 World Malaria Day, the state Ministry of Health, led by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Akinyinka Esho, was in Ile Ife at the weekend to sensitize the people on how prevent the spread of malaria.

    The Enuwa Palace square venue of the campaign was jam-packed as residents of the ancient town trooped out to be part of the event. Earlier, a press briefing was held in Osogbo, the state capital, where Dr.Esho highlighted some of the recent efforts of the state government to combat malaria.

    According to him, the state government had provided free health care policies to all age groups and has made anti-malaria drugs available in health facilities across the state while it distributed long lasting insecticide nets for the residents aside providing malaria diagnostic tools, among others.

    He also said that the state government was proactive about preventing malaria in the state with the channelisation of waterways for free flow of water to curb the breeding of mosquitoes. He therefore charged the people to support the Rauf Aregbesola administration’s fight against malaria  in the state at all times.

     

  • Indigenous firm produces anti-malaria paints

    Indigenous firm produces anti-malaria paints

    In contribution to the fight against malaria in the country, Divine Rewarding Services Ltd, a subsidiary of ABS powder has invented an anti-malaria paint.

    The water based paint is said to be repellent to mosquitoes and other insects and does not have any harmful effects on humans.

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the companyý Chief Uche Sylva stated this over the weekend in Abuja, at the launch of the product  ISONEM which comprise of sin-out the paint that dispels mosquitoes, soil water trap that ensures rain water is trapped in soils and cement mix isomix.

    He said that It is about time Nigerians tapped into the much hyped national potentials in terms of human and material resources and added that the basics of human good living and not mere existence is health, shelter and agriculture.

    He also said that isomix which is added to cement mixture helps to prevent building collapse that has become prevalent in the country.

    His words, “So with this product we are giving the fight against malaria a strategic boost and delivering better health and productivity to the populace.

    “Isomix, helps to prevent building collapse while the soil water trap is for ýgreen revolution and an all year round fruitful yield.

    This product helps to trap water in the grounds thus helping better agricultural yields and making all year round planting and harvesting a reality.

    “The positive impact of this product on our food security is better imagined.  We believe this could be one of the veritable tools for our sustainable national growth and development.

    All hands must be on deck to ensure that we retool, reequip and reposition our beloved country Nigeria to take its rightful place in the comity of nations.