‘Fight against Malaria Must Address Counterfeit Drugs’

Martins Ifijeh

The Nigerian Government has advocated for a strong Plan of Action in addressing the challenges of counterfeit drugs in the African region.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, speaking on behalf of Nigeria at the 66th Session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee Meeting in Addis Ababa noted that malaria was the commonest cause of presentation at health facilities and the major cause of under-five mortality in the country.

Adewole said Nigeria appreciates the fact that once malaria was eradicated in the country, the disease burden in Africa will drastically reduce.

He however regretted that much as countries in Africa were making efforts, upsurge of counterfeit drugs and poor control mechanism remains a major challenge.

He therefore called for a practical and effective regional arrangement by WHO to assist member states in kicking malaria out of the continent including tight control of counterfeit drugs.

The WHO has therefore has adopted a framework for implementing the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 thereby putting malaria as one of the WHO priority in the coming years.