On Thursday, the House of Representatives directed its Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control to conduct a baseline study on fraudulent anti-malarial medications across the nation’s six geopolitical zones as soon as possible and submit a report to the House within four weeks.
The House passed the resolution after it was presented on the floor of the Green Chamber by Billy Osawaru and Osonwa Ibe, who represent the federal constituencies of Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode and Arochukwu/Ohafia in the states of Edo and Abia, respectively. The motion was of urgent public importance.
“Motion on the Urgent Need to conduct a national baseline survey on fake anti-malaria medicines in Nigeria” was the title of the bill.
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Speaking about its importance, Osawaru stated, “The use of these counterfeit drugs is critical, as it causes treatment complications and ultimately raises the risk of death.” Drug counterfeiting was long overlooked, or at the very least greatly underappreciated, yet it is now undeniably one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health issues. Even though NAFDAC has made significant efforts to combat this illegal trafficking, much more work has to be done.
“The baseline survey is a crucial activity that needs to be completed immediately in order to ascertain the pre- and post-project scenarios of the ‘fight against low-quality anti-malaria medicines in Nigeria,'” he continued.
The survey will give the “fight” valuable information that will be utilized to decide on the approach to take in order to lower the number of deaths in Nigeria caused by the usage of counterfeit malaria medications.