The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and other religious leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, have called on the Federal Government to work on containing the spread of malaria in the country, News About Nigeria reports.
They appealed at the Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association’s (NIFAA) 9th Board of Trustees meeting, convened in Abuja on Tuesday.
They noted that the government needed to intervene in the fight against malaria and other health issues.
The meeting, which brought together faith leaders and stakeholders dedicated to the nation’s health and prosperity, signified a landmark in the country’s healthcare journey, as faith leaders collectively voiced their support for a more robust and resilient Nigeria, free of the burdens imposed by malaria.
They therefore advocated for a unified campaign to create internal resources dedicated to malaria-related activities, including increased domestic funding.
The Board also appealed to the Nigerian government to prioritise healthcare, with a particular focus on combating malaria and pledged to utilise their extensive networks to collaborate with state governors and other key players to enhance financial support for the eradication of malaria.
They maintained that the role of the faith community in health interventions cannot be overemphasised, lamenting the fact that the rate of mortality as a result of malaria, especially among pregnant women and under-5 children, is very high.
“We ask for increase in the number of states supported by the U.S. Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI).
“NIFAA will continue to work with the Ministry of Health and other agencies of government in order to address the health and other social needs of Nigerians,” the board stated.
