The House of Representatives has adopted the motion raised by the Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Benjamin Kalu on the urgent need to improve the quality of malaria intervention by prioritizing local content to prevent the high mortality rate of malaria in Nigeria today, July 27, 2022.
While presenting the motion to the House, the lawmaker stated that the recent 2021 Malaria Indicator survey analysis shows that Nigeria is sliding back with a parasite prevalence of 32% and the Impact of Malaria in the country has caused the country huge losses in lives of its citizens adding that Nigeria alone accounts for 27 percent of malaria cases and 31 percent of malaria deaths worldwide, with malaria killing no fewer than 200,000 Nigerians and afflicting 61 million others in 2021
He further stated that despite efforts to contain malaria, Nigeria loses over $1.1 billion (N645.7 billion) yearly to prevention and treatment of the disease as well as other costs. He highlighted that the body responsible for coordinating activities of partners and stakeholders on malaria control activities National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) in a recent report from the Office of the Inspector General of the Global Fund dated March 24, 2022, indicated that they have fallen from a B1 to B2 rating within 6 months, an unfortunate trend that undermines Nigeria’s shot at accessing future grants and partnerships in the fight to eliminate Malaria.
Rep. Kalu also recalled that on 2nd December 2020 the Federal Government inaugurated the National Steering Committee of World Bank Supported Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services Project (IMPACT), a $300 million project facility designed as a vehicle to fast[1]track government’s intervention in malaria to reduce under-five mortality in Nigeria for 13 beneficiary states and almost two years later, the project is yet to commence.
The Motion urged the House to ;
- Mandate the House committees on House Committees on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control; Health Services; and Health Institutions to conduct an investigation into the late/non-disbursement of the IMPACT Project funds;
- Mandate the House committees on House Committees on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control; Health Services; and Health Institutions to conduct an investigation into the reported underperformance and downrating of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) by the Office of the Inspector General of the Global Fund and report to the House in six (6) weeks;
- Invite the leadership of the National Malaria Programme to explain why defective mosquito nets are still being procured, imported, and distributed in Nigeria against World Health Organization standards and local content directives from this House; and
- Urge the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Malaria Program, and other relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to comply with the resolution to prioritize local content when procuring Malaria Commodities using funds from the IMPACT Projects facility
The motion was voted on adopted by the House
