BY CAROLINE AMEH
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday passed for a second reading, a bill seeking to establish the National Agency for Malaria Evaluation and Eradication, a move aimed at intensifying efforts to combat malaria in the country.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), was first introduced on November 28, 2023.
It proposes the creation of a federal agency solely focused on the eradication of malaria—a disease responsible for more than 1,000 deaths in Nigeria annually and over 6,000 deaths across Africa.
During debate on the floor of the Senate, Nwoko emphasized the severe impact of malaria on public health and national productivity.
He called for a comprehensive approach to malaria control, including vaccine research, improved environmental sanitation, and effective waste management.
Supporting the bill, Senator Victor Umeh and Senator Ède Dafinone described malaria as a persistent threat that has claimed countless lives in Nigeria.
They noted that the proposed agency could play a crucial role in reducing malaria-related deaths and curbing the misuse of anti-malarial drugs.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, which is expected to submit its report within four weeks.
A public hearing on the bill is anticipated soon, with stakeholders expressing support for what could become a major step in ending malaria’s devastating toll in Nigeria and across the continent.
