Senate approves National Agency for Malaria Elimination

The Senate has passed for third reading a bill seeking the establishment of a National Agency for Malaria Elimination in Nigeria and other related matters, with the sponsor, Senator Ned Nwoko (APC Delta North), declaring that it is “practicable and achievable.”

This was sequel to the consideration and adoption of the report presented by the chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Secondary and Tertiary, Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo (APC Rivers West) during plenary.

Presenting the report, Senator Banigo said that the proposed agency, when established, will be responsible for coordinating all national efforts towards the prevention, control and eventual elimination of malaria.

“The agency, when established, will help shift the country’s approach from curative to preventive or elimination,“ she said, adding that for nationwide operation, zonal and state offices of the agency shall be established and driven by a strategic plan backed by law, science and accountability.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described the legislation as a landmark in the war against malaria, which he called “the commonest ailment in this part of the world.”

Addressing journalists after the passage, Senator Nwoko assured Nigerians that the agency is achievable and would make Nigeria the first country in Africa to be malaria-free.

“In the course of my research on the elimination of malaria, I went to Antarctica with some of my legislative aides, after which I came up with the bill, which was passed for second reading in May last year and third reading by the Senate today.

“Eradicating or eliminating malaria is achievable in Nigeria through a special agency for that purpose,” he stated.

He assured that “the agency, when established, shall, through effective waste management, fumigation and research on vaccine, see to the elimination of malaria in Nigeria.”