As the world commemorates World Malaria Day, a public health parasitologist, Prof. Dennis Aribodor, has called on the government to make the treatment of malaria free for children in all public health facilities in Nigeria.
According to Aribodor, the high cost of malaria drugs has resulted in many families resorting to the use of unregulated herbal concoctions for the treatment of the disease, which has contributed to a high rate of kidney failures among children.
Aribodor, who is also the founder of Malaria Eradication and Safe Health Initiative of Nigeria, and the South-East Zonal Coordinator of the Civil Society Network in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition, said that only foreign agencies have become the major financiers of malaria control in Nigeria, while the government lacks political will in the fight against malaria.
He revealed that Algeria, where malaria was discovered in the 17th century, successfully eliminated the disease in 2020 through domestic funding without waiting for foreign aid.
Aribodor also highlighted that Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria in the world, and Anambra State is not doing well in malaria control.
The expert urged the Anambra State government to subsidize malaria drugs heavily and ensure that people have access to them from health facilities, as malaria remains a significant health challenge in the state.