FG seeks private sector involvement in combating malaria

FG seeks private sector involvement in combating malaria
Agency Report / 2 days ago

•CAMA calls for more funding

Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has called on organized private sector to join the fight in combating malaria in Nigeria stating that the sector plays an integral role in eliminating the terrible disease.

Indeed, companies have been successful in shaping malaria policies; impacting communities through workplace initiatives, product and service innovations, advocacy, research and investment.

The Minister gave this charge yesterday in Lagos at a forum organized by Corporate Alliance on Malaria in Africa (CAMA) as part of activities to mark the world malaria day.

He highlighted four key areas where the private sector can be influential to include innovation, policy, implementation and financing.

According to him the coming year would be a period of great opportunity for businesses to contribute to rapid acceleration of rate of progress in the global war against malaria. Success will require transparency from all partners, concerted efforts to address system challenges and a continued effort in eliminating the scourge.

The federal government is working on primary healthcare system to build up the national healthcare system and part of it is based on the national health act and the basic healthcare provision fund, which is to facilitate setting up healthcare down to the grassroots.

Speaking on incentives of private sector involvement in funding malaria, he said: we promised them that we are going to make use of their expertise, efficiency, management skills and their experience on distribution and giving them full partnership in the management of all programmes private sector is working with government.

With the theme, ‘Accelerating investment to bring malaria to zero’, CAMA sought for more private sector involvement to ensure in eradicating the disease in Africa.

Head, Sustainability, Access Bank Plc, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, said substantial malaria control investments have been made in Nigeria within the last decade. However, despite gains achieved, there remain considerable challenges in addressing the burden of disease and key performance indices are still below expectations.

She said accelerating investment in malaria in Nigeria and Africa will prevent more than 80 million illnesses and more than 300,000 related deaths annually. According to her ending malaria will increase school attendance, boost worker productivity and significantly lower out-of-pocket cost for treatment. This is why malaria prevention and control remain a collective energy of the private sector and commitment of the global malaria community in uniting the common goal of a world free of malaria.

President, GBC Health, Nancy Wildfeir-Field, said funding for malaria globally is only at 41 per cent of its 2020 target of $6.5 billion yet almost half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting malaria. The disease remains a major public health challenge, especially in Africa, which bears nearly 90 per cent of the global share of malaria cases and accounts for 91 per cent of malaria death.

She said Nigeria accounts for the highest number of cases and deaths from malaria in sub-saharan Africa. The economy loses $1.1 billion each year due to malaria-related absenteeism in the workplace and treatment costs.

Wildfeir-Field said there is strong rationale for the private sector to play a role in shaping health markets in Africa and in particular in malaria with direct impact on the workforce, stating that investment is vital.

Chief Executive Officer, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, said the foundation is leveraging its significant resources in the fight against malaria by bringing private sector stakeholders together to better align with and complement government’s effort to achieve its malaria pre-elimination goals by 2020 as outlined in the National Malaria Strategic Plan.

People who don’t eat breakfast more likely to gain weight – Study
Agency Report / 3 days ago

People who skip breakfast are more likely to gain weight and have larger waists, according to a U.S. study published online.

The study, led by Kevin Smith from Mayo Clinic in the U. S., shows that 26.7 per cent of people who skipped breakfast were obese, compared with 10.9 per cent of those who ate it frequently.

Besides, those who never ate breakfast self-reported the greatest weight gain over the past year, said the study titled “Frequency of Breakfast Consumption, Obesity and Weight Gain.”

The study traced the breakfast habits of 347 people from 2005 to 2017.

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The subjects, aged from 18 to 87, were measured for their height, weight, waist and hip circumference.

Participants, who needed to have the same breakfast routine for two or more years, reported their frequency of breakfast.

They were coded as “infrequent” if they had breakfast one to four times a week, and “frequent” if they had it five to seven times a week.

The study also found that those who missed their breakfast had an average waist of 97.5 cm, 9.8 cm larger than those who had it five to seven times a week, even when age, gender and body mass were considered.

“Infrequent breakfast consumption is associated with indices of central obesity and weight gain, with these associations being more evident in individuals who never eat breakfast,” the study said.

“Our findings on healthy adults are consistent with prior observations in the young, corroborating the concept that regular consumption of this meal is an important and independent contributor of healthy weight at all ages,” it added.