Abuja: Sen. Ned Nwoko, Chairman of the Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation for Malaria Eradication and the Community, has accused Western Pharmaceutical Companies of prioritizing their profits from the sale of malaria drugs over helping Nigeria eradicate the disease. Nwoko made these remarks during a malaria vaccine workshop organized by the Foundation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nwoko emphasized the necessity of establishing a malaria vaccine production plant in Nigeria and Africa, citing the lack of interest from Western companies due to malaria being predominantly an African issue. He highlighted that these companies profit significantly from selling malaria drugs, despite the potential long-term health risks associated with their use.
Nwoko pointed out the stark reality that over 600,000 lives are lost to malaria annually, with most of these fatalities occurring in Africa. He argued that if malaria were a European problem, vaccines would have been discovered by now, and efforts would be made to eradicate it. He urged Nigerian and African governments to prioritize the health of their people and invest in vaccine development to eliminate malaria.
He also mentioned that he has invested approximately 20 million dollars in malaria vaccine research and eradication efforts. As a lawmaker, he has introduced a bill in the Senate to establish an agency dedicated to malaria research and eradication, which he believes will lead to increased funding and collaboration with the presidential team. A public hearing on this bill is expected to occur before July.
Dr. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health, represented by Dr. Godwin Ntadom, acknowledged the current administration’s commitment to eliminating malaria through the use of vaccines. With Nigeria accounting for over seven percent of global malaria cases and deaths, the minister stressed the importance of initiating vaccine production in alignment with the government’s agenda.
In a presentation titled “Malaria Vaccine Advocacy and Community Engagement,” Dr. Michael Nwoko, Director of the Malaria Vaccine project of the foundation, emphasized the workshop’s goal to advance the manufacturing of the vaccine in Nigeria. He noted the project’s complexity, underscoring the need to collaborate with critical stakeholders to develop an effective malaria vaccine.