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UN Scribe Hails Global Anti-Malaria Efforts
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday applauded the progress made in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Ban expressed his satisfaction in a message to mark the World Malaria Day, which came up yesterday.
He said: “In a very short time, the world has gone from simply trying to hold malaria at bay to the realistic goal of delivering effective and affordable care to all who need it.”
The secretary-general noted that since 2003, international commitment to malaria control had increased more than five-fold to 1.7 billion dollars in 2009.
He also observed that the scientific community had set a research agenda for developing the tools and strategies that would eventually eradicate malaria.
Also in a message to mark the Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said its campaign to confirm diagnosis of malaria before treatment was yielding results.
It said a new evaluation of malaria rapid diagnostic tests would help health workers quickly to identify which patients had the disease and the need for immediate treatment.
According to the WHO, 15 out of 29 rapid diagnostic tests meet its criteria and can be used to quickly identify which patients have the disease.
“The Malaria Product Testing Evaluation Programme just completed a new assessment of the performance of 29 rapid diagnostic tests and found that 15 of them met the minimum performance criteria set by WHO,” the UN agency said.
“These rapid tests have been a major breakthrough in malaria control.
“They allow us to test people who cannot access diagnosis based on microscopy in remote, rural areas where the majority of malaria occurs,” said Dr Robert Newman, the Director of WHO’s Global Malaria Programme.
The UN secretary-general’s Special Envoy for Malaria, Mr Ray Chambers, said that about 200 million mosquito bed nets had been delivered across sub-Saharan Africa, covering half of the world’s population at risk of the disease.
He said that 100 million additional bed nets were in the process of being produced and delivered, leaving a gap of 50 million bed nets to meet the UN’s goal of universal coverage by the year’s end.
The UNICEF Executive Director, Ms Ann Venemean, said in a statement to mark the Day that the UN secretary-general’s goal for all endemic countries to achieve universal coverage with essential malaria control interventions by Dec. 31 was achievable.
“Evidence shows that malaria control interventions work, but they need to be scaled up even more to achieve the 2010 goal.
“The dual approach in the fight against malaria — from better coverage of insecticide-treated nets to increased use of Artemisin-based Combination Therapies to treat patients — is what is needed to help save thousands of lives,” she said.
Meanwhile, a U.S-based Nigerian medical practitioner, Dr Olabisi Jagun, told newsmen that with the search and research for a malaria vaccine still on, the focus should now be more on prevention to eradicate the disease.
Jagun, who is the Washington D.C. (Capital Area) Chairperson of the Association of Nigerian Doctors in the Americas, said the group was advocating for the availability of potable water and better drainage systems in Nigeria to prevent the spread of the disease.
In a related development, the World Bank had on Thursday announced that it had committed 200 million dollars to bed nets in sub-Saharan Africa to protect people living in the region from malaria.
The funding was in support of a recent call by the UN for a stepped-up effort to fight the disease.
World Bank President Robert Zoellick said the money would fund the production and distribution of additional 25 million nets, half the quantity still needed to supply all those at risk by the end of the year.
According to WHO statistics, around 850,000 people still die from malaria annually, of whom nearly 90 per cent live in sub-Saharan Africa. Majority of those deaths are children aged under five years.
The Katsina State Police Command has cautioned applicants for the upcoming police constable recruitment examination to adhere strictly to laid-down procedures and avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, issued the warning in a statement released on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu.
He disclosed that the nationwide examination is scheduled to take place from April 28 to April 30 in Katsina State and that the exercise will be conducted at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic along Dutsin-Ma Road.
According to the commissioner, only candidates who successfully passed the recently concluded physical and credential screening will be eligible to sit for the examination.
Applicants have been directed to log on to the official recruitment portal from April 24 to print their coloured examination invitation slips, which contain details of their specific date, time, and venue.
Mr Umar-Fage stated that candidates must present a valid National Identification Number (NIN) slip issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), bearing a clear photograph, alongside their printed coloured invitation slip and a writing pen at the examination centre.
He added that the approved dress code for the exercise is a white T-shirt, white shorts, and white canvas shoes.
Reiterating that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, the police chief warned applicants to be wary of individuals or groups seeking to extort money under the guise of facilitating recruitment.
The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council has pledged to take decisive action to curb the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) across the state, in partnership with ActionAid and other relevant organisations.
The commitment was made during an event organised by ActionAid in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Port Harcourt. The programme, titled “Convening of Traditional Rulers for GBV Prevention,” carried the theme, “From Custodians to Champions: Redefining Culture for GBV Prevention and Community Protection.”
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Okilomuibe of Engenni Kingdom, HRM King Moore MacLean Ubuo, said traditional rulers are determined to move beyond mere responses to incidents of violence by adopting proactive strategies.
“We will establish and empower community-led structures, including traditional cabinets and women leaders, to identify early warning signs of violence and intervene before harm occurs,” he said.
King Ubuo added that traditional institutions are committed to enforcing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law within their domains, stressing that the longstanding culture of silence surrounding abuse would no longer be tolerated.
“We will ensure that our subjects understand their rights and that the law is respected as the ultimate standard for justice,” he added.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Government emphasised that tackling GBV requires more than policies and enforcement, noting that a transformation in societal attitudes is essential.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lauretta Dimkpa, who was represented by the Director of Child Welfare, Mrs. Fumilayo Adebayo, highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in shaping societal values.
“As traditional rulers, your voices command respect, your decisions influence behaviour, and your institutions are trusted platforms for conflict resolution and social guidance,” she said.
She urged them to promote cultural norms that uphold dignity, respect, and equality, while also encouraging victims to report abuse without fear of stigma.
In his remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, described the gathering as timely, noting that GBV remains a widespread violation of human rights and a major obstacle to sustainable development.
Represented by Dr. Adedeji Ademefun, he cited data showing that 31 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and cultural silence.
“National surveys indicate that nearly three in ten women have experienced physical or sexual violence, underscoring the scale and urgency of this crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Rivers State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee, Barrister Evelyn Asimie Membere, described GBV as one of the most persistent human rights violations, cutting across age, class, and geography.
According to her, traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to influence behaviour and drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.
“In many of our communities, your voice carries more weight than any policy or legislation,” she said.
The event brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening community-based approaches to preventing GBV and protecting vulnerable groups across Rivers State.
A socio-political group, the Tinubu Youths Vanguard Organisation (TYVO), Rivers State chapter, has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing the need to consolidate ongoing economic and infrastructural reforms.
The State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Emmanuel Fubara, made the appeal over the weekend in Port Harcourt on the sidelines of a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.
He said granting the Tinubu administration a second term would enable it to fully implement its transformation agenda, particularly under the Renewed Hope initiative.
“It is important that the Tinubu administration is given another opportunity to complete its economic and developmental programmes for the benefit of the country,” he stated.
Fubara disclosed that the group is preparing for its formal inauguration in the State, along with the unveiling of its local government, ward and unit structures, including student and market women wings.
According to him, the organization will be fully mobilised to promote the policies and achievements of the current administration, with a focus on issue-based campaigns aimed at restoring public confidence in the nation’s economy.
He noted that the administration has made strides in revamping the economy and executing key infrastructure projects, including the ongoing coastal road development in parts of the country.
Fubara expressed confidence that the group’s campaign strategies would resonate with Nigerians, adding that opposition voices would be effectively countered through sustained grassroots engagement.
He also urged members of the group to intensify sensitisation efforts across communities, highlighting what he described as visible results of the administration’s reforms.
On security challenges facing the country, Fubara said the situation was inherited from previous administrations but maintained that the current government is taking decisive steps to address it.
He expressed optimism that ongoing efforts, including international collaborations, would significantly curb insecurity in the near future.
When asked whether the group would also campaign for Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the TYVO coordinator said the organisation would take a position at the appropriate time, noting that directives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would guide its activities.