Provide free malaria treatment for Nigerians, Reps tell FG

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have called on the Federal Government to urgently provide free treatment and drugs for malaria in public-owned hospitals nationwide.

In a motion of urgent national importance brought on the floor of the House during plenary session on Thursday by a member representing Isuikwato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Abia State, Amobi Ogah, the House described malaria as a serious disease that spreads ‘when you are bitten by a mosquito infected by the tiny parasites called plasmodia.’

The lawmaker noted that if not treated, “Malaria can cause severe health problems such as seizures, brain damage, trouble breathing, organ failure and even death.

“Malaria is common in the tropics and does not have ‘respect’ for either race, tribe or class; it infects everybody.

According to the lawmaker, “In 2020 (Health Essentials Report) there were 241 million reported cases of malaria throughout the world, with 627,000 deaths with the majority of the deaths (90 per cent) in Africa with more than 80 per cent involving children under the age of five years.”

Leading the debate, Mr Ogah said the House was aware that the most severe form of Malaria, which may progress to a coma celebral malaria.

“This type represents about 15 per cent of deaths in children and nearly 20 per cent of adult deaths. According to Malaria treatment 2023 statistics, about 45 per cent of the total population of Nigeria get infected by malaria on an annual basis.

“An estimated 68 million cases and 194,000 deaths due to the disease were recorded in 2021. Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria globally, accounting for nearly 27 per cent of the global malaria burden.

“The House notes that malaria is a cause and a consequence of poverty because both are interrelated, thus creating a very dangerous scenario that is very critical because a predominantly sick population cannot have any strong economic power.

“The House further notes that it is disturbing to understand that, the average cost of treating malaria in Nigeria today by self-medication is about N5,000.00 and upon consultation with a healthcare provider with a laboratory test may cost over N10,000.00. Many

“Nigerians cannot presently afford these. Consequently, they may resort to using local herbs or sub-standard drugs that may lead to complications or even death.

“Concerned that, upon (sic) the present national economic hardship where a single meal per day is hardly affordable by most average and lower-class citizens with the exorbitant cost of living due to the removal of oil subsidy, affordability of the purchase of malaria drugs becomes even more difficult thus, the need for the intervention of the government in the provision of free malaria/treatments and drugs in government hospitals to avert the malaria catastrophe.”

He further argued that “HIV and tuberculosis that presently enjoy free treatment in Nigeria are not as prominent, widespread and even killers as malaria today.”

The House, following the adoption of the motion, urged the Federal Government to use “Part of the savings from the removal of petroleum subsidy to provide free malaria/treatment and drugs in all government hospitals in Nigeria.”