FG Partners Private Sector to Boost Malaria Elimination Efforts
In a significant move to accelerate the elimination of malaria in Nigeria, the Federal Government has engaged three leading pharmaceutical companies – Emzor, FIDSON, and CODIX Pharmaceuticals – in a high-level meeting aimed at scaling up local production and improving access to malaria commodities.
The meeting, which was convened by the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), was held in Abuja and marks a major step towards achieving the government’s goal of a malaria-free nation.
According to the National Coordinator of PVAC, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s healthcare mandate to unlock the value chain by localizing production, ensuring affordability, accessibility, and long-term sustainability.
“We are committed to working with the private sector to improve the healthcare system and reduce the burden of malaria on the Nigerian population.
“This partnership is a significant step towards achieving our goal of a malaria-free nation, and we are confident that it will yield positive results,” Dr. Mukhtar said.
The National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, highlighted the need for robust supply chains to guarantee the availability of life-saving malaria interventions such as insecticide-treated nets, antimalarial medicines, and rapid diagnostic kits.
“The engagement with the private sector is expected to shape the implementation of the co-payment scheme, reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients, and ensure continuous availability of quality malaria commodities across the country,” Dr. Ntadom said.
Nigeria accounts for a significant percentage of the global malaria burden, and the Federal Government has acknowledged that collaborative efforts with the private sector are critical to achieving its goal of a malaria-free nation.
The partnership with Emzor, FIDSON, and CODIX Pharmaceuticals is expected to yield significant benefits, including the increased production of malaria commodities, improved access to these commodities, and reduced costs for patients.
The government has expressed its hope that the partnership will serve as a model for future collaborations with the private sector, and will help to unlock the potential of the healthcare sector in Nigeria.
