The Senate has passed for second reading a bill to establish National Agency for Malaria Eradication.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill at plenary on Thursday by its sponsor, Sen. Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta).
Mr Nwoko, in his lead debate, said that the bill sought to address nothing short of a national emergency.
According to him, malaria is not merely a public health issues but a crisis that impairs maternal health, drains economic productivity and impedes national development.
He said that malaria accounts for most maternal mortality in Nigeria, contributing to severe anemia, miscarriages, still births and infant deaths.
Mr Nwoko said that the tragic outcomes occasioned by malaria had potential effect on most vulnerable citizens, adding that economically, malaria was resulting in loss of millions of manpower every year.
He said that although there were various efforts to eradicate malaria, the strategies and efforts could not substitute for a structured national action.
The senator said that the bill proposed a centralised, autonomous and fully-resourced National Agency for Malaria Eradication, stressing that its mandate would be clear and aggressive.
He stated that the agency, when established, would formulate and champion national policies for malaria eradication and coordinate inter-agency and sectoral responses with authority.
He said that the agency would also mobilise and manage resources efficiently and transparently, and support vaccine research, including genetic innovations being explored globally.
“Nigeria cannot continue to lead the world in malaria deaths; our vectors are evolving; our parasites adapting, so must our institutional response.
“A fragmented structure cannot confront a mutating threat! we need a unified, science-driven and legislatively-backed institution, with the singular mandate of ending malaria in Nigeria.
“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the time has come for this nation to demonstrate the political will, urgency and resolve that malaria eradication demands.
“Let this bill be our collective legacy, a line in the sand, marking the point where Nigeria stands up, not just to treat malaria, but to end it,” he said.
Mr Nwoko said that his foundation had also mobilised, promoted researched and initiated high-level consultations, including hosting a strategic WHO meetings in his constituency.
“I urge you, Mr President and my colleagues, to support the speedy passage of this bill as a critical step towards saving lives, strengthening our public health infrastructure and securing the current future of our nation,” Mr Nwoko said.
Contributing, Sen.V ictor Umeh (LP-Anambra) commended the sponsor of the bill, saying that malaria was a challenge to the society, while Nigerians were paying dearly for it.
He also said there was the need to evolve measures to address malaria in the country.
Sen.Ede Dafinone (APC-Delta), in his own contribution, noted that malaria had an incredible impact on the economy and the citizens, saying that young people were the most vulnerable.
According to him, the bill focuses on reduction of the impacts of malaria on the people.
Deputy President of Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), who presided over the plenary at that moment, referred the bill to the Committee on Health for further legislative inputs, directing it to report back in four weeks.
NAN
