Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Rep. Amobi Ogah yesterday urged the Federal Government (FG) to declare a state of emergence on malaria in the country.

This is because the country tops the list of countries with highest deaths from malaria globally.

He spoke as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Mosquito Day.

Ogah,who represents Isukwuato/Umunneochi constituency of Abia state, described malaria as a deadly affliction with potential to inflict woes on the citizenry.

The lawmaker made this known in a statement in Abuja.

The World Mosquito Day is commemorated on August 20 globally. This year’s event has the theme: “Fighting the World’s Deadliest killer –the Mosquito.”

He said: “The aim is to raise awareness about the causes of malaria and how it can be prevented and danger, posed by mosquitoes and its borne diseases as well as laying emphasis on the ongoing global efforts towards combating the world’s deadliest creature.

“Considering the threat malaria poses to humanity, every effort must be geared towards eradicating one of the deadliest killer mosquitoes.

“The House Committee on HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control is not unmindful of the challenges faced by Nigerians in the fight against these ailments, especially in the fight against the control of malaria in the country which appears to defy 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.

“According to the World Health Organization, four African countries accounted for just over half of all malaria deaths worldwide: Nigeria top this list with 31.3%, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 12.6%, Tanzania (4.1%) and Niger (3.9%).”

He added: “I am aware that the World Health Organization (WHO) global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030, updated in 2021, provides a technical framework for all malaria-endemic countries, including Nigeria.

“This document is expected to guide and support regional and country programmes on malaria control as they work towards control and elimination of malaria. “

The statement stressed that technical strategy includes reducing malaria case incidence by at least 90% by 2030, reducing its mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030.

The Rep said that: “The prevalence of fake malaria drugs will be looked into, to avoid further deaths recorded.

“We will carry out our oversight functions to ascertain the role of primary health care in the ‘Roll Back Malaria Programme.’

“Nigeria is a country in need of protection from malaria. Death toll from the disease makes up nearly a third of the world’s 619,000 deaths a year.”

He further said there is a need to work towards total malaria eradication to concentrate more efforts on the vector, being the mosquito, adding that the government must work tirelessly to achieve this.

He called on FG to pay more attention to eradicating mosquitoes by engaging critical stakeholders in the health sector, including Non-Governmental Organizations, saying; “the burden of malaria in the country is sequel to less attention given to the parasites.”

culled from Daily Times Nigeria