Malaria Gulps N132 Billion Annually In Rivers

The Rivers State Government says N132 billion goes down the drain annually in the fight to eradicate malaria from the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr.  Sampson Parker, made this disclosure at a press briefing in his office in Port Harcourt, to intimate the public on how the federal government plan to celebrate this year’s World Malaria Day, slated for May 4, 2012.

Dr. Parker said the economic burden of malaria in the state was very high saying, “The economic burden of malaria cannot be overemphasised. Annually, we are losing about N132 billion to malaria in terms of treatment, in terms of pocket expenditure, in terms of what you lose by not going to work and in terms of preventive activities that have been going on.”

He explained that the State Ministry of Health targets 80 per cent of the state in the on-going Biolarricidal arial spraying to kill off mosquito larval and added that so far the effect has been a reduction in the morbidity and mortality due to malaria and a reduction in the rate of bites by mosquitoes

He said the state was pursuing early diagnosis and treatment to reduce incidences of the disease and urged the people to clear their environments of dirt and stagnant water to eliminate breeding places for mosquitoes.

The World Malaria Day celebration would be hosted by Rivers State on May 4, 2012 and is expected to attract all the members of the Economic community of West African States (ECOWAS), state governors and top federal and state government functionaries.

The State Commissioner for Health, used the opportunity to announce that the free medical care programme of the state is on-going stressing that “registration is free and remains free” for all citizens and residents of the state who can show proof of their citizenship and residency in the state maintaining that neither the state governor nor himself have directed that anybody should pay any money to be registered into the programme.

According to him, “Free medical care programme is free, all you need to is to show proof that you are a resident of Rivers State… and they will register you free.”

Dr. parker insisted that no money has been remitted to him or the state government’s account as funds accruing from the registration programme and emphasised that no one has been mandated to collect any money to process anything for any patient under the programme.

Tonye Nria-Dappa