In a bid to ensure malaria free nation, Nigerian lawmakers have endorsed a collective, innovative and transformative approach towards tackling the malaria scourge in the Nigeria.

Chairman of the House committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and malaria control, Hon. Amobi Ogah said with the alarming rate of Malaria infections in Nigeria, declaring emergency on Malaria will not be out of place.

Hon. Ogah while speaking at an Inaugural meeting of the Committee in Abuja called on the Federal Government to subsidize malaria drugs if it cannot make them free at all government-owned health centers for the benefit of Nigerians.

“It is no rocket science that most Nigerians are affected by Malaria yet access to drugs are not readily available, while the ones available are very exorbitant. My vision is to see a Nigeria where malaria drugs will be given to our people free or subsidized. With the alarming rate of Malaria infections in our country, declaring emergency on Malaria will not be out of place.

“We will also address the proliferation of fake and sub-standard Malaria drugs in our country with a view to identifying the sources and imposing penalties on them. It is our duty to protect our people, since we are their representatives. Therefore, producers and distributors of fake and sub-standard Malaria drugs will have no hiding place under our watch.

“To achieve all our objectives, we are ready to partner and collaborate with relevant MDAs, Donor Agencies and NGOs. We will critically look into the operations and processes of the Global Fund in relation to their intervention mechanism in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I assure you that we are ready to move mountains to ensure we succeed”.

The Committee Chairman also said it will also address the proliferation of fake and sub-standard Malaria drugs in our country with a view to identifying the sources and imposing penalties on them.

“It is our duty to protect our people, since we are their representatives. Therefore, producers and distributors of fake and sub-standard Malaria drugs will have no hiding place under our watch.

“To achieve all our objectives, we are ready to partner and collaborate with relevant MDAs, Donor Agencies and NGOs. We will critically look into the operations and processes of the Global Fund in relation to their intervention mechanism in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I assure you that we are ready to move mountains to ensure we succeed.

“I therefore charge my Honorable Colleagues to brace up as we must put in the shift to ensure we leave this place better than we met it. On this score, I solicit your maximum cooperation and support to ensure we attain and surpass our goals and objectives, while I assure you that you will all be carried along in the activities of the Committee.

Once again I welcome you and wish us all a fruitful, successful and eventful ride on-board the House Committee on ATM”.