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The Federal Government says it is anxiously waiting for the result of pilot RTSS / ASO1, the World's first anti-malaria vaccine, recently introduced in Malawi.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, revealed this at the commemoration of 2019 World Malaria Day (WMD) in Abuja on Thursday.
Adewole said that the success of the vaccine would catalyze global efforts at eliminating malaria.
He noted that Nigeria was responsible for 25 percent of the global malaria burden and 19 percent of global deaths from malaria.
He further said that, with the success of the trial vaccine, more commitments were being made by the country with the help of its development partners to eliminate the scourge.
"We are fully committed to malaria elimination. We have developed innovative programs that will increase access to funds for malaria program implementation,
"Some of which include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the Save One Million Lives Project, and we are also soliciting for additional funding support for malaria programs," he said.
He said that every Nigerian has a role to play in the effort to end the scourge of malaria, from the artisan on the street to the Chief Executive in the office.
"There are simple things that we can do to keep our environment clean, sleep inside the long-lasting insects, when you have to be tested for the condition that you are treated with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).
"Malaria is still a public health challenge. According to the World Malaria Report, Nigeria still accounts for 25 percent of the global malaria burden.
"We also account for 19 percent of deaths from malaria. Though funding for malaria control has been relatively stable since 2010.
"We need to improve at least 40 per cent in malaria cases and mortality rates globally by 2020."
Adewole noted that the WMD celebration provides the opportunity to review the risk of malaria in our country.
"Let me inform you that we are fully committed to malaria elimination. We have developed innovative programs that will increase access to funds for malaria program implementation.
"Some of which include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the Save One Million Lives Project and we are also soliciting for additional funding support for malaria programs.
In 2018, President Mohammadu Buhari approved an incentive funding of $ 18.5 million for the procurement of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLIN). We carried out LLINs replacement campaigns in eight States.
"In order to ensure malaria, a national quantification exercise is being conducted in conjunction with other partners," he added.
Adewole also noted that the federal government was in the process of setting up an expert group of researchers in the field of malaria.
According to him, the process of Malaria Program Review (MPR), a holistic review of malaria program implementation in the country is on-going and the outcome would inform changes in strategies and interventions where necessary.
VANGUARD
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