The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill seeking the establishment of the National Agency for Malaria Elimination.
The bill scaled third reading following the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).
Chairman of the committee, Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, in the report, said the proposed agency would coordinate all national efforts towards the prevention, control and eventual elimination of malaria in Nigeria.
She noted that the establishment of the agency would help shift the country’s approach from curative to preventive and elimination strategies.
“The agency, when established, will help shift the country’s approach from curative to preventive or elimination,” the committee stated.
The report further indicated that the agency would operate nationwide through zonal and state offices, driven by a strategic plan backed by law, science and accountability.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks after the passage of the bill, described the legislation as a landmark intervention in the fight against malaria.
He said malaria remained the most common ailment in Nigeria and across many parts of Africa.
Speaking with journalists after the passage of the bill, the sponsor, Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), expressed confidence that malaria elimination in Nigeria was achievable.
“Elimination of malaria in Nigeria is practicable and achievable,” Nwoko said.
He added, “In the course of my research on elimination of malaria, I went to Antarctica with some of my legislative aides, after which I came up with the bill, which was passed for second reading in May last year and third reading by the Senate today.”
The lawmaker stated that the proposed agency would deploy strategies such as effective waste management, fumigation and vaccine research to tackle malaria.
“Eradicating or eliminating malaria is achievable in Nigeria through a special agency for that purpose,” he said.
“The agency, when established, shall, through effective waste management, fumigation and research on vaccine, see to the elimination of malaria in Nigeria.”