Dangote foundation leads renewed war against malaria

Dangote foundation in a renewed task to help eliminate malaria in Nigeria is leading other stakeholders in the private sector to pull resources together in a joint fight against malaria as the Federal Government (FG) urges Dangote and other private sector players to do more on malaria eradication at the launch of the Private Sector Engagement Strategy against Malaria (PSESM) document code named ‘Malaria to Zero’ in Lagos.

The launch of the document is directed at the movement towards saving lives of Nigerians and an estimated economic loss of about $2.4 billion annually.

Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, a Professor, in his remark appealed to the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to help the government in its efforts at eradicating malaria in Nigeria, because the government alone could not succeed without the assistance of the private sector.

The collaboration with the OPS according to the minister became imperative given that over 30 million insecticide treated nets are required in Nigeria yearly, couple with the fact that over 80 percent of the anti-malaria medicine in the country are imported, hence the need to look inward.

According to Adewole,  “We need their discipline and efficiency in the fight against malaria and in the local production of the medicine because that can generate employment in the country”.

The Minister of Health opined that the government at the federal level has engaged in series of advocacies which has yielded results, but advocacy is not enough, many people would have been beaten before going under the insecticide treated net, therefore there is a need for research into why the people are not utilizing the Insecticide Treated Net (ITN).

Adewole said over 100 million long-lasting Insecticide Treated Nets were distributed within the last seven years to protect over 28 million out of the 33 million households in Nigeria.

Nevertheless, The Minister explained that over the last decade, substantial progress has been made in the control of malaria in Nigeria through significant investment from the government and development partners with an increased supply and distribution of anti-malaria commodities nationwide.

Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote Foundation in his address lamented the effect of the malaria scourge to Nigeria and its economy saying “in addition to direct costs to business and the economy, it indirectly damages the economy through the deterioration of human capital, the loss in savings, investments and tax revenues”.

Dangote stated that the private sector can play an important role in mobilizing domestic resources, capabilities, and innovation and advocacy platforms to catalyze progress in achieving Nigeria’s malaria pre-elimination agenda.

Furthermore, Dangote stated that he co-founded the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN), which is focused on mobilizing the private sector, across one coordinated platform, to leverage private sector capabilities, advocacy, innovation and resources to complement government efforts in advancing health outcomes.

He therefore called on more private sector leaders and companies to join the ‘malaria to zero’ campaign to pool resources to have impact at a scale that is greater than underlying corporate initiatives against malaria.

Dangote further promised that he would continue to use his voice to bring attention to the fight against Malaria, disclosing that he had recently accepted an invitation from Bill Gates and Ray Chambers to join them on the End Malaria Council.

The panel of discussants led by Bello Aliyu, Group Medical Director, Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited and Muntaqa Umar Sadiq, MD/CEO Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria that was raised at the PSESM launch was of the opinion that Nigeria need to re-strategize into social marketing of health related issues and remodeling of business technique in the health sector.

The document which highlighted the problems of malaria with statistics and how the private sector can collaborate in eradicating malaria has its mission as to provide equitable, comprehensive, cost effective, efficient and quality malaria control services ensuring transparency, accountability, client satisfaction, community ownership and partnership.

Those present at the unveiling were unanimous on the fact that while the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2014-2020) is a good one, the gains of the past years must be sustained, care must be taken to ensure transition from malaria control to elimination in the country, which of course could only be achieved with adequate collaboration between government and the private sector.

Bala Augie & Seyi John Salau

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