Alarmed at the increasing rate of deaths recorded annually from Malaria infected diseases in parts of the country, Federal House of Representatives has asked the Federal government to provide free Malaria medical treatment and drugs in government hospitals in Nigeria from funds saved from subsidy removed from petroleum.
This is the Green chamber has urged Federal Ministry of Health to set up units in all government Hospitals in the country for the provision of free Malaria treatment and drugs to citizens of the country.
In his submission, at yesterday’s plenary, sponsor of the motion, Hon Amobi Godwin Ogah, chairman, House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria control, representing Isuikwata/Umunneochi federal Constituency of Abia state, explained that the average cost of treating Malaria in the country today by self-medication, is about N5,000.00 and that upon consultation with healthcare provider with laboratory test may cost a patient over N1000.00.
He observed that many Nigerians can not presently afford this. Consequently, the patient may resort to using local herbs or sub-standard drugs that may lead to complications or even death.
Hon Ogah further expressed concern that the current economic hardship where a single meal per day is hardly affordable by most average and lower- class citizens with the exorbitant cost of living due to the removal of oil subsidy, affordability of the purchase of Malaria drugs becomes even more difficult and as such, the need for government intervention in the provision of Free Malaria treatment and drugs to all citizens in government hospitals to avert further Malaria catastrophe.
Disturbed by this ugly scenario if the trend does not change for the better, poor innocent low class, susceptible citizens may further suffer or even die as a result of high cost of living upon the increasing high cost of Malaria drugs.
He noted that the prevailing circumstances in the country requires free Malaria treatments and drugs by government to it’s citizens.
According to the Lawmaker, ” it may further be interesting to note that, HIV and Tuberculosis that presently enjoy free treatment in Nigeria are not as most prominent, wide spread and even killers as Malaria today.”