Pharma company recommends Free Malaria Management programme as part of fuel subsidy palliative

Pharm. Akinjide Adeosun
CEO/MD, St Racheal’s Pharma

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the World Malaria Day today, a leading pharmaceutical company, St. Racheal’s Pharma, has called on the in-coming administration led by President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to institute a Free Malaria Management Programme under the proposed fuel subsidy palliative project.

In a Press Release signed by its Chairman, Pharm. Akinjide Adeosun, the company described the suggested malaria management initiative as the least but urgent step the government could take to address the huge burden of malaria in the country.

Citing statistics by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the company said malaria, being the most prevalent disease in the country, deserves a priority attention by the new government using the window of opportunity offered by the proposed fuel subsidy palliative programme. The statement further reads in part:

“While we are in support of cash distribution to indigent Nigerians, initiating a free programme that will offer free malaria management to everyone in all parts of the country will not only impact positively on the people’s health but will also drastically reduce unnecessary death being recorded every year from the disease, thereby improving life expectancy in Nigeria.’’ 

“According to the 2021 World Malaria Report, Nigeria had the highest number (27%) of global malaria cases and the highest number of deaths (32%) of global malaria deaths. The country is also reported to account for 55.2% of malaria cases in West Africa. Unfortunately, the nation’s responses so far, have not shown a remarkable  progress and the required political will to achieve a malaria-free Nigeria and the goal of reducing its morbidity to less than 10 percent parasite prevalence and mortality of less than 50 deaths per 1000 as  enunciated in the 2021-2025 National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP).’’

“As a corporate entity with a mandate of promoting good health in Nigeria and the African continent through information, education, manufacture, distribution, marketing and supply of quality pharmaceutical brands we at St. Racheal’s Pharma, are  in resonance  with the call by the World Health Organisation (WHO), on countries to build a more resilient programmes to address the menace of malaria.

“Considering Nigeria’s huge burden of the disease, the theme for this year’s World Malaria Day ‘Time to deliver zero malaria, invest, innovate, implement’ cannot be ignored. 

“This is why we urge the new government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act swiftly and adopt a more radical approach by instituting & implementing a compulsory free malaria management initiative, to achieve the nation’s strategic plan.”

The company further urged children & adults to remain alert and take their health more seriously especially in the prevention and management of malaria.

“Please don’t underrate malaria. It remains a killer and a major cause of ill health in our country. Report symptoms to health practitioners, be tested and treated on time to avoid complications and unnecessary deaths,” St. Racheal’s Pharma further urged.