The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) says that Nigeria has lost over N132 billion to the treatment of malaria, which has been identified as one of the major causes of ill- health and death in Nigeria.

Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Dora Akunyili, who spoke at an anti-malaria seminar in Enugu, which also featured product launch of Artecxin, a new anti malaria medicine, noted that the fight against malaria can only be successful if Nigerians play the role expected of him especially in the areas of keeping a good environment and abstaining from the sale and production of fake drugs.

She noted that NAFDAC, in its contribution in the fight against malaria, has worked relentlessly towards combating drug counterfeiting and ensuring the quality, safety, efficacy and rational use of drugs and other related products.

“It is fundamental to the functions of NAFDAC. NAFDAC is therefore a major stakeholder in the prevention and control of malaria in Nigeria,” she said.
Akunyili, who was represented by the South East zonal Coordinator, NAFDAC, Mr. Udoekpo Ekpo, noted that malaria was responsible for 60 per cent outpatient visit to health facilities, 30 per cent childhood deaths, while 25 per cent of deaths include children less than one year and 11 per cent maternal deaths.

Managing Director of O’Nell, Dr. Nelson Maduabuchi, manufacturers of Artecxin, said the new malaria drug is the company’s contribution in the fight against malaria in Nigeria .
He commended the government of Mr Sullivan Chime in Enugu for introducing the free ante-natal and delivery for pregnant women in the state as well as free health care services for children between the ages of one and five in the state. He announced a donation of 20, 000 dozes of the malaria drug to the Enugu State government’s to compliment government efforts to improving the healthcare status of the people of the state.

He said that the drugs, which are worth about N50 million, will also help in the fight against malaria in Enugu State.

He explained that Artecxin-Artemisinin based combination therapy “has been developed to combat malaria. The drug, being launched and donated to the state, is a brand of artemisinin based combination therapy recommended for WHO, USA, EFID, NAFDAC, and so many other health institutions. We consider it something we have to do.

He note that government, especially in Enugu State, is trying in managing the environment as he said that dirty environment contributes in breeding mosquito.
“While government is doing its best towards taking care of our environment, the developing countries, like Africa, has a peculiar problem which has made it difficult for us to achieve a stable clean environment that will not habour mosquitoes. So, government is trying and we should not only put the blame on government individuals should find a way of keeping their environments clean,” he said.
He noted that government has some environmental sanitation programmes that should take care of the gutters, urging individuals to know that health was wealth.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Martin Chukwuweike, who represented the governor, thanked O’Nell pharmaceutical for the malaria drugs to the state, noting that the state government had, since assumption of office in May 2007, mapped out programmes aimed at fighting malaria in the state.
He said new roads in the state has been planned in such a way that it has adequate drainage system to ensure there is no stagnant water where mosquito can breed.

We are also planning to fumigate the state against mosquitoes,” he said.
The health commissioner took a swipe at those who circulate fake and adulterated drugs in the state, warning that government would not take it lightly with such people whenever they are caught.