By Victoria Ojeme

The National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, has called on state governments, philanthropists and companies to key into its programmes on funding the recommended malaria treatment drug, Artemisinin based Combination Therapy, ACTs, in order to make it affordable and accessible.5

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National Coordinator, NMEP, Dr Nnenna Ezeigwe, made the call in Abuja during an interactive session with newsmen on private sector malaria case management.

Represented by the Director and Head of Programme Management, NMEP, Dr Audu Mohammed, she said: “State governments are also encouraged to key into the ACT co-payment mechanism for their respective states.

“Philanthropists and companies are encouraged to key into the Private sector Co-Payment funding system, in order to help their states or populations of interest.”

The Private Sector Co-Payment Mechanism, PSCM, is an innovative Public-Private Partnership and financing mechanism, aimed at expanding access to affordable ACTs in eight developing countries including Nigeria.

While calling on the public to insist on paying only N200 for adult dose of 24 tablets of ACT, Ezeigwe urged healthcare providers to advise patients to do a malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and to treat based on the results of the test.

its burden in the country.