The Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN), a non- governmental organisation made up of over 1200 groups in Adamawa and 12 other states, has called for improved funding and more commitments by stakeholders to tackle the menace of malaria and other infectious diseases in the country.
The NGO made its position known at a press conference in Yola, Monday, through the programme manager, Mrs. Lauratta Charles, who reiterated the committee’s commitment to work with other stakeholders in order to kick out malaria out of the country.
She further explained that, ACOMIN, alongside other global and national stakeholders under the leadership of the federal government at all levels, would not leave anything to chance in the efforts to control the menace.
According to her, based on world malaria report 2022, Nigeria accounted for approximately 27% of global malaria burden in 2021, and 31% of the estimated malaria deaths worldwide, adding that the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that, severe malaria caused 194,000 deaths in 2021 with about 80% of this fatalities occurring among children under 5 years.
The programme manager further added that they had been focusing on community-led monitoring with the objective of improving availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability and quality health care services in addition to educating community leaders and members on identifying gaps, utilising data for advocacy and promoting community participation and ownership.
She also added that, effective prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support services for infectious diseases such as HIV/Aids, malaria, Tuberculosis among others, were also crucial in tackling the challenges, especially for vulnerable population and those in remote areas.
She identified some of the challenges militating against effective malaria control observed in the discharge of their responsibilities to include; inadequate staffing, equipment shortages, stock out of medical supplies, high treatment cost among others, and called for more commitments by all stakeholders.