BY Okey ndiribe

The Federal Government is collaborating with the Rivers State Government towards eradicating malaria from Nigeria.

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu disclosed this in Abuja last week when he received the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Samson Parker who led other medical experts to make presentations on the benefit of adopting bio-larvicide in the fight against malaria in the country.

Chukwu further declared that that plans were underway on the part of the Federal Government to partner with the Rivers State Government to erect a bio-larvicide factory in the state.

“Government has never relented in its commitment to fight the malaria scourge which is known to have been killing our people but what it demands is mutual participation from all stakeholders.”

Chukwu further stated that government would explore other financing options through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to get the project executed, but noted that state governments should also intensify their efforts in the fight against malaria through funding since it constitutes a national scourge.

“Rivers State Government has Federal Government’s support on this project because it is one state that has been complementing our effort in this regard and that is why we invited them to tell us their experience and how other states can also join in the fight against malaria.”

Parker in his response said part of the reasons the State’s delegation visited the Federal Ministry of Health was to dismiss skepticism about the workability of a malaria free Nigeria as well as to shoreup the political will on the part of government to achieve this laudable goal.

He said since health was on the concurrent legislative list of governance, the State Government felt it appropriate to share its experience in the use of bio-larvicide, since it had worked for the people living in the riverine communities of the Niger-Delta. Bio-larvicide technology involves use of chemicals that have been certified environmentally friendly.