The Federal Government has enlisted the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, and the Chairman of Geregu Power Plc, Femi Otedola, to the Nigeria End Malaria Council to eradicate the disease in the country.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, inaugurated the council in Abuja on Friday, August 23, 2024.
Alausa said the prominent business leaders would collaborate with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), National Assembly Joint Health Committees, and women’s organisations.
He said they have been tasked with the task of reducing and potentially eliminating the malaria scourge in the country.
The minister emphasised the urgency of addressing malaria prevalence in the country, which he said led to the establishment of the council.
According to him, the disease’s prevalence makes it urgently expedient to explore every option available to address it.
Alausa said: “The Nigeria End Malaria Council was established on August 16, 2017, by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Its primary objectives are to keep malaria high on national and state agendas and secure strong political commitment from leaders.
“It is also to mobilise resources, particularly from the private sector, to close resource gaps in the national malaria strategic plan.”
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He stated that the council had been unable to meet since 2022 due to the change in government and other operational challenges, adding that the secretariat, however, remained functional.
The minister further disclosed that the country contributes over a quarter of global malaria cases and about a third of the more than 600,000 malaria deaths worldwide, mostly affecting children and pregnant women.
Alausa said: “It is sad to note that the disease contributes about 25 per cent to 30 per cent of childhood mortality and about 60 per cent of hospital attendance.
“Similarly, malaria is a major cause of absenteeism in schools, markets, and workplaces, as well as a significant out-of-pocket expense for most households in the country.”
The minister, therefore, handed over the leadership of the council to Dangote, who has served as Nigeria’s Malaria Ambassador as well as a member of the Global End Malaria Council.
Speaking, Dangote urged the members to tackle the disease head-on.
He acknowledged the members’ collective strength across government, civil society, religion, and business, and highlighted their unique ability to mobilise resources for the national malaria programme.
Dangote also outlined the council’s primary objectives of ensuring that the disease elimination remained high on Nigeria’s agenda.
He, however, said it would be possible with strong political commitment from leaders at all levels, and advocacy at both the national and state levels to secure sufficient funding.
Dangote urged the council to be alive to its responsibility of protecting the progress made so far, sustaining it, and ensuring that the country is on an irreversible pathway to ending malaria for good.
The council members are expected to mobilise funds needed to ensure malaria is eliminated in the country.
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