Mortein backs N4.13bn malaria plan

    Household products maker Reckitt Benckiser has pledged support to a fresh nationwide six-year plan to eliminate malaria in Nigeria, estimated to cost N4.13 billion in implementation. The National Malaria Strategic Plan 2014-2020 calls for N3.5 billion to be spent on drugs, treated mosquito nets and other supplies to boost the fight against malaria […]

 

 

Household products maker Reckitt Benckiser has pledged support to a fresh nationwide six-year plan to eliminate malaria in Nigeria, estimated to cost N4.13 billion in implementation.

The National Malaria Strategic Plan 2014-2020 calls for N3.5 billion to be spent on drugs, treated mosquito nets and other supplies to boost the fight against malaria in hopes of eliminating the disease by a 2020 deadline.

Some N496 million will pay for nets. A campaign has been on by the National Malaria Elimination Programme to distribute more than 40 million nets, which have begun to wear out after three years.

And another N475.6 million is to pay for treating children with malaria, considered a major killer of children aged less than five.

Dropping deaths

NMEP estimates that much of the reduction in child mortality figures around the country come from pushing down the number of malaria-related deaths among children.

Six in 10 outpatient hospital visits and three in 10 hospital admissions are attributed to malaria, which has cost Nigeria N3.1 billion last year alone in federal interventions, according to health minister Khaliru Alhassa.

But latest figures indicate a 20% reduction in malaria cases nationwide.

“When we started this journey 15 years ago, the statistics we had were so disturbing,” Alhassan said at the plan’s launch in Abuja in comments delivered by health permanent secretary Linus Awute.

“Today we have made progress, but the world has shifted from malaria control to malaria elimination.”

The elimination programme has called for diverse investment in time, resource and knowledge about malaria as well as stronger collaboration from states and local government areas.

Combined attack

The six-year plan emphasises prevention and treatment as well as control of the mosquito vector that carries malaria through indoor residual spray, expected to cost up N1.87 billion.

A wider programme using larvicide—which kill off mosquito larva before they mature into adults or render them incapable of reproducing later in life—is expected to cost N475 million, according to the plan.

“The goal of the strategic plan for 2014 to 2020 is to achieve pre-elimination status and reduce malaria related death to zero by the year 2020,” said Dr Nnenna Ezeigwe, NMEP coordinator.

RB which makes the insecticide Mortein was one of five companies on exhibition on World Malaria Day in Abuja plans to reach 500,000 new mothers in hospital with malaria information this year alone.

“We believe malaria can be eliminated in Nigeria which is the reason Mortein owned by RB Nigeria is championing the cause for a malaria-free Nigeria,” said its marketing director for West Africa, Oguzhan Silivrili.

It has been on a campaign to push malaria information to a target 5 million mothers through hospitals, mobile clinics and primary health centres.