NLNG, researchers urge more investment in innovations to defeat malaria
…As Ogbono soup boosts efficacy of anti-malaria drug
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Malaria Day, five scientists who emerged joint winners of the 2017 Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Prize for Science, have called on the federal government to renewed its effort by investing more in innovations that would help the country to defeat malaria.
The theme of the 2017 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Science which comes with a cash prize of $100,000 was “Innovations in Malaria Control.”
The joint winners were: Ikeoluwapo Ajayi, Ayodele Jegede , Bidemi Yusuf , Olugbenga Mokuolu and Chukwuma Agubata
Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday at a programme organised by NLNG to mark the 2018 World Malaria Day in collaboration with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), one of the winners, Prof. Mokuolu, said evidences have shown that increased research, funding and innovations could defeat malaria.
The theme of this year’s World Malaria Day is “Ready to beat malaria”.
The World Malaria Day is celebrated on April 25 annually to create awareness about the scourge of malaria in Nigeria and across the globe and suggest recommendations for possible solutions and controls.
In his presentation, Mokuolu, who is a Professor of Pediatrics’ at the University of Ilorin, said malaria is a condition that must be fought and defeated considering the number of Nigerians dying from it annually particularly pregnant women and children.
Mokuolu who won the Science prize with his research work titled: “Multifaceted Efforts at Malaria Control in Research: Management of Malaria of Various Grades and Mapping Artemisinin Resistance”, said research has improved the sale and uptake of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACTs) which he said was the right drug for the treatment of malaria.
He explained: ” Since artesunate was adopted as the right anti-malaria drug by the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 100 million doses of it has been sold. Evidence allows for strong decisions to be taken.
“That is why we are encouraging research. This is because investment in research has returns. The evidences provided by a research enable policies to be straight forward.
“Malaria provides opportunity for investment in various areas, ranging from treatment, diagnostic tools and innovative delivery system”
Also, another winner, Dr. Agubata in his work titled: “Novel lipid microparticles for effective delivery of Artemether antimalarial drug using a locally-sourced Irvingia fat from nuts of Irvingia gabonensis var excelsa (ogbono), said that taking Irvingia Fat from nuts of Irvingia Gabonensis Var Excelsa, known as “Ogbono’’ soup has helped to improve the efficacy of anti-malarial drugs.
Agubata who is a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy,University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said that eating Ogbono soup while administering Artemether, an Anti-Malaria drug would improve the efficacy of the drug.
He said that Ogbono would assist the drug to pass through all the barriers to get to its destination in the body and start working properly.
In his remarks, President of LCCI, Mr Babatunde Ruwase, urged the federal government to adopt and implement strategies toward creating a conducive investment climate for more private sector participation in health financing.
Ruwase advocated for more private sector participation and funding of the sector, saying government and international donor agencies alone might not be able to finance estimated malaria budget.
Also speaking, Prof Akpoveta Susu, Chairman, Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Science, said that the collaboration between NLNG and LCCI was to support the attainment of a malaria-free and healthy population that would deliver innovation and productivity needed to develop the country.
He said that the Nigeria Prize for Science was established in 2004 by NLNG to help build a better Nigeria.
