Tag: Muhammad Ali Pate

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

The Federal Government has decried the loss of $1.1 billion economic loss from malaria, a health challenge which must be eliminated.

The a coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, made this known in Abuja at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria, AMEN.

Prof Pate reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to eliminate malaria, adding that the launch of an advisory body is aimed at addressing the related health and economic challenges factors.

He said, ” Malaria continues to exert an unacceptable toll on Nigeria With 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths, our country bears the heaviest burden of this disease. In 2022, over 180,000 Nigerian children under the age of five lost their lives to malaria- a tragedy we have the tools to prevent.”

The Minister stated, “malaria is not just a health crisis; it is an economic and developmental emergency.”

” Malaria reduces productivity, increases out-of-pocket health expenditures and, compounds the challenges of poverty. The annual loss to Nigeria’s GDP from malaria exceeds $1.1billion, a stark reminder of the economic imperative of elimination.”

Prof. Pate noted that, malaria elimination is a critical component of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, NHSRII, framework for transforming the health sector, in tune with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

The minister who highlighted the importance of traditional and religious leaders to drive grassroots support and influence behaviour change.

He acknowledged the urgent task as reflected in the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021-2025 to amongst others reduce malaria prevalence to below 10%, halve malaria- related mortality by 50 deaths per 1,000 live births.

This advocacy approach, he emphasized, will complement AMEN, in promoting use of insecticide- treated nets, chemoprevention and vaccines, the minister said.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako noted that the body will provide evidence based solutions to reduce the unacceptable malaria burden but set us on a realistic path to a malaria free Nigeria.

“For us to succeed, private sector, international partners, healthcare workers and, the communities we serve must be harnessed and coordinated”, Dr. Salako added.

The Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom who represented by Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Director Public Health Department in the Ministry; stated that the present administration has brought a new life to the effort to eliminate the disease.

AMEN members are drawn in globally renowned experts, led by Prof. Rose Leke charged with the responsibility of advancing evidence based solutions towards elimination of malaria from Nigeria.

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

The Coordinating Minister for Health & Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate in Abuja launched the N1.34 billion National Occupational Health and Safety Strategic Plan (2024-2028) to improve and promote a healthy and productive environment that is safe for health workers to live and work in.

Prof. Pate explained that the strategic plan is a proactive measure to guide the Nigerian health sector and other stakeholders on how to achieve a healthy workforce, for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, and the International Labour Organization , ILO.

The strategic plan would also guide on how to manage work-related diseases, injuries, and accidents to improve the health, well-being, and productivity of employees.

” This strategic plan document addresses significant challenges and strategic objectives through activities and instruments that align with the Health sector strategic blueprint , he said.

To achieve effective implementation of the strategic plan on occupational health and safety, Prof. Pate, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom expressed the need for government at all levels, partners, donors, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to use Judiciously the N1.34 billion fund to achieve the aims of the strategic plan in the next five years.

Speaking affirmatively, the Permanent Secretary Kachollom Daju represented by Dr. Bako Aiyegbusi Director Nutrition Department of the Ministry, stated that the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare will do it’s best to make sure that the health of workers is highly prioritized as a National Occupational Health and Safety culture-where Government’s, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment.

This safety culture, according to the Permanent Secretary, would be achieved through a system of defined rights, responsibilities, and duties and, where the highest priority is accorded to the principle of prevention.

The World Health Organization, WHO, Country representative, Dr. Walter Molumbo reiterated WHO’s commitment to implementing the Five-Year Strategic Plan.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, represented by Comrade Ismail Bello advocated for a structural approach to addressing safety and preventive measures to hazards in workplace environments in the country, with a call for synergy among employer, labour and Government.