Over N42bn expended on malaria annually – FG

Speaking at a campaign against malaria self medication in Abuja,  Ezekwe said that Nigeria also contributes 25 per cent of the total malaria burden globally and in every 30 seconds, a child dies of malaria in the country. Worst affected in the malaria burden are pregnant women and children under five years.Concerned by this development, […]

Speaking at a campaign against malaria self medication in Abuja,  Ezekwe said that Nigeria also contributes 25 per cent of the total malaria burden globally and in every 30 seconds, a child dies of malaria in the country.
Worst affected in the malaria burden are pregnant women and children under five years.
Concerned by this development, a non- governmental organization, Support to Nigeria Malaria Programme (SuNMaP), has launched a campaign against malaria self-medication.
The campaign was tagged: “Don’t over sabi with malaria – Test before you treat.”
Represented by Head of Programme Management in her office, Audu Bala, Ezekwe noted that: “Apart from deaths caused by malaria, we also have economic issues. In fact, on the average, about N42bn is being lost on one thing or the other due to malaria annually, for which this fund would have been very useful.
He further noted that, “Through behavioural change and communication between 2000 and 2010, we were able to reduce the malaria burden by 50 per cent and have seen the prevalence rate of malaria reduce to almost about 42 per cent and this is a tremendous achievement for the government.”