House Committee Pledges to Work with Stakeholders in Fight against Malaria, HIV/Aids

Adedayo Akinwale and Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House Committee of Representatives Committee on HIV, Aids Tuberculosis and Malaria has pledged to work with relevant stakeholders in the fight against malaria, HIV/Aids and tuberculosis in ensuring that monies budgeted for are used for the purpose for which they are made.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon, Amobi Ogah, stated this while addressing a press conference yesterday, in Abuja.

He pledged that the committee would work assiduously in line with the 10th House legislative agenda in delivering dividends of democracy to the people and by extension collaborating with the present administration in the fight against HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Ogah, stressed that the committee was ready to hit the ground running from day one in view of the enormous responsibility ahead.

He said: “The House Committee on HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control is not unmindful of the challenges being faced by Nigerians in the fight against these ailments especially in the fight against the control of Malaria in the country which appear to defile solutions.

“The committee will work with relevant stakeholders in the fight against malaria in ensuring that monies budgeted for are used for the purpose for which they are made,” he added.

The chairman said according to the World Health Organisation, four African countries accounted for just over half of all malaria deaths worldwide, saying Nigeria top this list with 31.3 per cent, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 12.6 per cent, Tanzania (4.1%) and Niger (3.9%)

Ogah, said he was aware that the WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030, which was updated in 2021, provides a technical framework for all malaria- endemic countries, including Nigeria.

He added that the document was expected to guide and support regional and country programmes on malaria control as they work towards control and elimination of malaria.

The chairman stressed: “We will also ensure adequate implementation of legislations geared towards the eradication of malaria in the country.

“Where such legislations are not adequate, we will work to provide the needed amendment to such existing legislations for the general good of the Nigerian people.

“To this end we will work with all Ministries, Departments and Parasatals to also ascertain the level of awareness and sensitisation created in Nigeria.”

Ogah, said their scope would also include the National Orientation agency, NAFDAC, NCDC, Ministry of Health among others.

He stressed that the Green Chamber would work to strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country, while also ensuring that the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) would be strengthened through legislations and funding to be in a better position to deliver on its mandate, while also ensuring accountability and probity.

The chairman said while Nigeria continues to fight the spread of HIV, AIDS, he expressed worry with the level of awareness on the prevailing spread of the disease, adding that there was need to work towards carrying out oversight functions on MDAs under the purview of the Ministry of Health saddled with this responsibility as well as international partners with a view to finding a lasting solution.