FG seeks N112bn to tackle malaria

The Federal Government on Wednesday said it would require additional $700m (N112bn) within the next three years to step up its campaign against malaria.

The figure was disclosed by a senior official, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, during a presentation made at a workshop in Abuja on Wednesday.

The workshop, supported by Access Bank Plc and other key players in the private sector, was targeted at how to form partnership towards eliminating malaria and accelerate impact on maternal and child health.

Ezeigwe said based on the strategic plan of the ministry, a funding gap of $700m had been identified between now and 2017 to carry out programmes that would help reduce the prevalence of malaria.

She said the N112bn was aside the resources that had already been provided by the Federal Government and its other key partners for the fight against malaria.

To this end, Ezeigwe said the government would need the intervention of the private sector in areas such as diagnostics tests, establishment of malaria control centres, and setting up firms for the local production of insecticide nets among others.

She said, “Based on our strategic plan, we have intervention areas such as the rapid diagnostics tests, programme management and communications.

“So, we tried to cost all those areas between now and up to 2017. And then we have now taken account of the funding and the resources we have at the moment, resources from government and our partners and then the gap is what we have projected cumulatively and this gives us about $700m.”

Also speaking at the event, the Head, Development Banking, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Oluwatoyin Idowu, said the bank would continue to support the government not only in the fight against malaria, but to ensure a healthy populace.

He said, “We will partner with them in order to look at the issues relating to maternal health and reduction in child mortality. As a bank, we partner the private sector in terms of giving out loans to them to do their businesses and because most of these health businesses you are seeing are not usually for commercial viability.

“So, what we do is to come in as a bank and assist these areas where social investments are being made by financing this type of programme.”