NGO tasks Niger to increase funding for malaria
The Niger state government has been tasked to increase funding to combat malaria if it must attain improved service delivery across all primary healthcare centres in the state.
State Coordinator, Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Mr. Olasunkanmi Kalejaiye, who issued the advice, lamented that carrying out malaria interventions amidst the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic presents several challenges.
He said efforts at tackling the COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on accessing malaria services in many primary health centres because the people are afraid of being suspected having contracted COVID-19 if they present symptoms of malaria.
According to him, inadequate provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers, particularly those at the primary healthcare level have left many health workers exposed and as such they are unable to provide optimal services as required.
He declared that “we are calling on government at all levels to increase funding for malaria interventions, improve and upgrade health facilities across the states, purchase and distribute adequate medical equipment to health facilities.
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“Government should provide sufficient beddings and mattresses. Our challenges are non -allocation of resources and specific budgets for malaria intervention, inadequate human resources, dilapidating and abandonment of health facilities.”
He also said low health seeking behaviours on the part of the community members is worrisome, as some people do not believe the coronavirus exists and therefore, disregard COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
Kalejaiye called on the people to abide by the safety guidelines put in place to further reduce community infection by using face masks and practicing social distancing.
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