High  Medical Expenses Increasing  Malaria Mortality Rate, Says Group

Ayodeji Ake

The ATM Networks,- Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Tuberculosis (TB) Network, have raised the alarm over malaria mortality rate caused by  the rising medical  expenses.

Speaking at the recent media brief in Lagos recently, the State Coordinator, TB Network, Mrs. Ifelunwa Aipoh,  lamented that the mortality report discourages care-seeking behaviour.

She is  worried that Nigeria is still on the global map of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria burden.

She said: “Nigeria has the world’s highest number of people affected by malaria and the world’s second-largest human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS burden. There is a high occurrence of co-infection of malaria in HIV patients. Nigeria is also ranked as one of the 30  high tuberculosis (TB) and TB-HIV co-infection burden countries in the world.”

“Co-infection can make each disease more severe and potentially more infectious. This rapid literature review highlights key aspects of the epidemiology of malaria, HIV, and TB in Nigeria, in addition to challenges in controlling the three diseases, in terms of prevention, detection, and treatment.”

“Socio-economic demographics influence the prevalence rate of malaria, HIV, and TB infection. The diseases are poverty-related, with the poorest populations most vulnerable due to inadequate health facilities, and lack of access to information and quality education. In addition, lack of financial resources can undermine treatment.

“Nigeria’s high under-five malaria mortality is largely due to high out-of-pocket medical expenses, which discourages care-seeking behaviour, particularly among the poorest households. Even where treatment is free, such as in the case of TB, payment of transport to clinics and other hidden out-of-pocket costs for patients may render treatment prohibitive. Some patients had to travel over 30 km away from their homes in rural areas to access TB, HIV, and Malaria services, which can be unaffordable for many.”

Aipoh advocated for focus and interventions on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

“HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria are diseases that demand consideration of populations’ underlying predisposition to disease in the forms of socioeconomic inequality and abject poverty.

“While the motivations of the international community for addressing the diseases include pragmatic concerns of international security, economic prosperity, and domestic health status, they must ultimately include the ethical responsibility to redress gross inequalities. Adequate attention to the systemic forces underlying these infections thus necessitates correspondingly systemic solutions,” she said.

The group revealed relying on the community engagements for project accomplishment.

“On grant, ATM Networks are using the Community Led Monitoring approach to engage community stakeholders to take ownership of health interventions, particularly on HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis (TB), by identifying gaps hindering effective service delivery, jointly prioritize identified needs, and advocate for improvement in healthcare service delivery.

“The implementation of the grant in the (18) GF supported states namely Ogun, Delta, Ekiti, Lagos, Cross River, Rivers, FCT, Edo, and Anambra States, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Ondo and Oyohavebeen divided among the networks (ACOMIN-8; NEPWHAN – 8, and TBNetwork-2) for the purpose of effective coordination. The project covers a total of 90 LGAs, 270 wards, and 270 health facilities across all 18 states.

In Lagos State the project is been implemented in five  LGAs (Mushin,Shomolu, Alimosho, Ikorodu,and Eti Osa) in Lagos State,” the group said.