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Nigeria loses $1.1bn to malaria yearly – Minister
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate said the annual loss to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product from malaria exceeds $1.1bn.
Prof Pate said this in Abuja at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Body on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria.
A statement by the Deputy Director of Information & Public Relations at the ministry, Alaba Balogun, on Tuesday, stated that Pate described malaria as not just a health crisis, but an economic and developmental emergency that must be eliminated.
Pate said the launch of the advisory body was a bold and decisive step to confront and address the disease.
He said, “Malaria continues to exert an unacceptable toll on Nigeria. With 27 per cent of global malaria cases and 31 per cent of global malaria deaths, our country bears the heaviest burden of this disease. In 2022, over 180,000 Nigerian children under the age of five lost their lives to malaria – a tragedy we have the tools to prevent.
“This is not just a health crisis; it is an economic and developmental emergency. Malaria reduces productivity, increases out-of-pocket health expenditures and, compounds the challenges of poverty. The annual loss to Nigeria’s GDP from malaria exceeds $1.1bn, a stark reminder of the economic imperative of elimination.”
The minister said malaria elimination was a critical component of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative framework for transforming the health sector, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
He also highlighted the importance of traditional and religious leaders to drive grassroots support and influence behavioural change.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, affirmed the advisory body as a group of experts who will provide evidence based advisory to help the country to reduce its unacceptable malaria burden, and set up realistic paths to a malaria-free Nigeria.
“For us to succeed, the private sector, the international partners, the healthcare workers and, the communities we serve must be harnessed and coordinated,” Salako added.
The advisory body is made up of globally renowned experts under the leadership of Prof Rose Leke.
The experts are charged with refocusing on advancing evidence-based solutions that address current challenges, ensuring that malaria elimination is prioritised in the budgets and plans of all levels of government and, creating frameworks for accountability that ensure sustained progress.
The Chairman of Bariga Local Government Area of Lagos State, Kolade Alabi, on Wednesday, suddenly slumped at the All Progressives Congress stakeholders’ meeting held at the party’s Secretariat in Ikeja, the state capital.
According to The PUNCH, Alabi, who is the state chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, was addressing party members when the sad incident occured.
Fortunately, he was immediately revived and rushed away to the hospital in an ambulance for further treatment.
Details shortly…
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, admitted a video recording allegedly showing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu issuing inflammatory directives which the prosecution claims incited acts of terrorism across the South – East region of the country.
The Wednesday proceedings resumed with the continuation of the testimony of the second Prosecution witness, an operative of Department of State Services (DSS) codenamed PWBBB.
In the video played in open court, Kanu was seen addressing his followers in what he called, “the blessed land of Biafra”, wherein he announced the formation of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), urging followers to defend their land against what he referred to as “Fulani domination.”
He warned political leaders in the region against compromises and issued a directive forbidding the presence of fulani herdsmen, saying, “No Fulani parading as herdsman shall be allowed in our land. If you are an agent of the Fulani, turn your way this evening.”
The device was admitted as evidence alongside a certificate of compliance, despite objections from the defence.
They were marked as Exhibits PWA and PW1, respectively.
The court also admitted a letter dated June 17, 2021, authored by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, which accused Kanu of terrorism, murder, and incitement to violence.
The letter, addressed to the DSS, was tendered without objection and marked as Exhibit PWF.
Reading from the document, the witness, who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN alleged that Kanu’s broadcasts were followed by coordinated attacks on police stations and correctional facilities, resulting in loss of lives and property.
He quoted the petition as saying Kanu had instructed that security operatives be “brought down” and their weapons seized.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has alerted the public on the activities of Property World Africa Network (PWAN), which holds itself out as a real estate investment company and solicits funds from the public for investment purposes through PWAN MAX.
In a statement on Tuesday, the SEC said PWAN/PWAN MAX are not registered either to solicit investments from the public or operate in any other capacity within the Nigerian capital market.
The SEC said investigations revealed that PWAN’s operations exhibit the typical indicators of a fraudulent Ponzi scheme, including the promise of unusually high returns and failure to honour withdrawal requests from subscribers.
“Accordingly, the public is strongly advised to be wary about investing with PWAN/PWAN MAX, as any person who places such investment with these entities, does so at his/her own risk.
“The commission similarly reminds potential investors of the need to verify the registration status of investment platforms via the commission’s dedicated portal: www.sec.gov.ng/cmos before transacting with them,” the SEC said.
(The Guardian)
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