BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR
LAGOS – The United States Agency for International Development, USAID, and other multi-national collaborators have pledged $82 million towards the fight against scourge of malaria in the country.
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terrence McCulley, who said this at the launch of Malaria Action Projects for States, MAPS, added that his government was committed to partnering with African countries to build capacity in stamping out malaria.
He said: “Under the U S-funded President’s Malaria initiative,PMI, there are plans to work with partners to reduce by half the burden of malaria to 70 per cent of the at-risk populations in sub- Saharan African (approximately 450 million residents), thereby eliminating malaria as a major public concern and promoting development throughout Africa.”
MAPS is a USAID- funded integrated malaria project that enjoys PMI support.
The MAPS project, which spans five years beginning from 2010 to 2015, will run in six states – Zamfara, Benue, Nasarawa, Oyo, Ebonyi and Cross Rivers.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammed Pate, said Nigeria loses about N132 billion annually to manage malaria illness among its population, leading to depletion of labour force through diseases caused by species of mosquitoes.
The minister, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Dr. Labaran Shinkafi, said associated losses include huge man-hour by the nation’s labour force.
LAGOS – The United States Agency for International Development, USAID, and other multi-national collaborators have pledged $82 million towards the fight against scourge of malaria in the country.
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terrence McCulley, who said this at the launch of Malaria Action Projects for States, MAPS, added that his government was committed to partnering with African countries to build capacity in stamping out malaria.
He said: “Under the U S-funded President’s Malaria initiative,PMI, there are plans to work with partners to reduce by half the burden of malaria to 70 per cent of the at-risk populations in sub- Saharan African (approximately 450 million residents), thereby eliminating malaria as a major public concern and promoting development throughout Africa.”
MAPS is a USAID- funded integrated malaria project that enjoys PMI support.
The MAPS project, which spans five years beginning from 2010 to 2015, will run in six states – Zamfara, Benue, Nasarawa, Oyo, Ebonyi and Cross Rivers.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammed Pate, said Nigeria loses about N132 billion annually to manage malaria illness among its population, leading to depletion of labour force through diseases caused by species of mosquitoes.
The minister, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Dr. Labaran Shinkafi, said associated losses include huge man-hour by the nation’s labour force.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/usaid-others-pledge-82m-lifeline-to-fight-malaria/