Institute Free Malaria Management as Part of Fuel Subsidy Palliative –Company Urges Tinubu

In line with World Malaria Day,  a leading pharmaceutical company, St. Racheal’s Pharma, has called President-elect Bola Tinubu to institute a free malaria management programme under the proposed fuel subsidy palliative project.

The company noted this in a statement its Chairman, Pharm. Akinjide Adeosun signed and issued it on Monday, April 24th. 

The company described the suggested malaria management initiative as the least, but urgent step the government could take to address the enormous burden of malaria in the country. 

Citing statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the company said malaria, the most prevalent disease in the country, deserves priority attention by the new government using the window of opportunity offered by the proposed fuel subsidy palliative programme.

The statement read in part, “While we are supporting cash distribution to indigent Nigerians, initiating a free programme that will offer free malaria management to everyone in all parts of the country will not only impact positively on the people’s health but will also drastically reduce unnecessary death being recorded every year from the disease thereby improving life expectancy in Nigeria.”

It further quoted the 2021 World Malaria Report, which shows that Nigeria had the highest number (27 per cent) of global malaria cases and the highest number of deaths (32 per cent) of global malaria deaths. 
The country is also reported to account for 55.2 per cent of malaria cases in West Africa. 

“Unfortunately, the nation’s responses so far have not shown remarkable progress and the required political will to achieve a malaria-free Nigeria. 

“And the goal of reducing its morbidity to less than 10 per cent parasite prevalence and mortality of fewer than 50 deaths per 1000 as enunciated in the 2021-2025 National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP), the pharmaceutical firm bemoaned. 

As a corporate entity with a mandate of promoting good health in Nigeria and the African continent through information, education, manufacture, distribution, marketing and supply of quality pharmaceutical brands, St. Racheal’s Pharma says it aligns with WHO’s call on countries to build more resilient programmes to address the menace of malaria. 

The statement added: “Considering Nigeria’s huge burden of the disease, the theme for this year’s World Malaria Day, ‘Time to Deliver Zero Malaria, Invest, Innovate, Implement’, cannot be ignored. 

“This is why we urge the new government of the President-elect to act swiftly and adopt a more radical approach by instituting and implementing a compulsory free malaria management initiative to achieve the nation’s strategic plan.” 

The firm further tasked children and adults to remain alert and take their health more seriously, especially in the prevention and management of malaria. 

“Please don’t underrate malaria. It remains a killer and a major cause of ill health in our country. Report symptoms to health practitioners, be tested and treated on time to avoid complications and unnecessary deaths,” St. Racheal’s Pharma urged.