Donor agencies driving the National Malaria Control Programme in Nigeria are asking state governments to subsidize the costs of malaria drugs as part of efforts to reduce the burden of malaria treatment.
According to them, the cost of malaria treatment drugs should not be more than 200 Naira so that the drugs can be within the reach of all who are medically in need.
The global funding for the elimination of malaria in Nigeria is targeting to eliminate malaria from Nigeria by the year 2030.
Since the target was set, international donor agencies have been working with government and non-government organizations to achieve it.
Country Director and head of the programme, Mr Audu Mohammed, said that there is need to subsidize malaria treatment drugs to attain the goal.
Aside ensuring that there is availability of the drugs, the drivers of the national malarial elimination programme also say it is adopting another strategic plan that will ensure that people get diagnosed before they are treated for malaria.
Mr Mohammed also insisted on the need to diagnose all suspected cases before treatment is administered.
However, the Executive Secretary for the country coordination mechanism for the global fund, Mr Fatai Bello, emphasized the need for pregnant women to be given priority.
Those who implement the malaria elimination programme insisted that the 2030 target to eliminate malaria is feasible if the awareness is created about the need to keep the environments clean, malaria drugs subsidized by government and patients properly diagnosed before treatment.
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