By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr.Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has disclosed that a top agenda of President Ahmed Tinubu’s government is to prioritize malaria elimination from the country as part of its socio- economic necessity.
Dr. Salako stated thos during a courtesy visit from a team from the Malaria Consortium led by the National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Progamme (NMEP), Dr. Nnenna Ogbulafor.
Dr. Salako while addressing the team explained the significant gains if the government to eliminates malaria through its Sector Wide Approach ( SWAp) inititative that promotes collaboration between the Federal Government and its sub-national Governments.
This approach, he stated, would enable the health ministry to track annual operations and implementation plans at state levels through a unified healthcare policy.
Supporting this SWAp inititative, Dr. Salako pointed out that the adoption of a digitalized healthcare initiative, is critical in creating a central repository centre where information around healthcare data can be accessed.
“We have the digital in health initiative. It is a nationwide initiative to digitalize our system at all levels of healthcare; primary, secondary and tertiary”, the minister added.
He applauded the positive feedbacks received from Malaria Consortium, concerning the government at the state levels.
Also, the minister highlighted the impact of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund which is
targeted at delivering primary healthcare services across the country.
“The Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, I believe, covers malaria. And in this Government, the management of that fund has been reorganised. We are making the funds available more regularly.”
“I am happy that this what you are observing from the field. I want to assure you that as a country, we will continue to cherish and support Malaria Consortium to deliver on your mandate.”
“I will continue to value the feedback from your own independent assessment of the implementation, effectiveness and the impact that these programs are making in our communities “, Salako stated.
Meanwhile, the minister recognised the crucial role which Malaria Consortium as a global brand plays in addressing challenges around malaria and elimination of malaria particularly in a country like Nigeria.
adding that its a the Honourable Minister said the Ministry valued it’s crucial role as a partner and collaborator in its agenda to eliminate malaria.
Director Programme Malaria Consortium, Dr. Kolawole Maxwell noted the Minister of State’s efforts and outcomes on malaria research and assessment visits to both Northern and Southern parts of the country, emphasizing the efficacy of research and methodology in malaria case management to achieve results.
” We are working with stakeholders to understand what are the incentives and barriers for use of nets. That is the first phase. The second phase is we are working with them to now use those findings to create what we call prototypes of solutions”, he further asserted.
