Group seeks free malaria treatment from Nigerian government

Society for Malaria control, Immunisation and Nutrition, has urged the government to provide free malaria treatment for citizens.

The state Coordinator of the group, Hassana Maisanda, said the treatment of malaria should be made free with unhindered access.

Maisanda said, “Every person irrespective of their socio-economic class, gender, ethnicity, demography and location should have equal rights and unrestricted access to malaria treatment and other healthcare services.

“The civil society also encourages building the resilience of the community health systems which can be achieved by promoting community ownership and investment in health systems. When strong health systems are in place, it is almost certain that efforts put in to fight malaria will be effective. Traceable and sustainable, especially at the community level.

“Community investments in health have noticeably improved since the introduction of the Community led Monitoring (CLM) project being implemented by ACOMIN, with support from the Global Fund (GF).”

The Programme Manager of ACOMIN, Samuel Chuwang, called on the government to increase budgetary allocations to health, especially malaria elimination, adding that would end curb the disease.

Betty Kathy of the National Malaria Elimination Programme called for community engagement, while lamenting the use of mosquito nets to cover farmlands.

Kathy said, “If the person you are giving Insecticide Treated Net (ITN), is not using it, then all the efforts do not make sense. It is our responsibility at this level to ensure they are aware. 

“As we speak, we have people using mosquito nets to cover their farm, to cover where they keep animals but the aim is beyond that. We need to build resilience since every effort counts.”

Temitope/punch