FG to fight malaria with Biotechnology – Onu

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has assured that the federal government would increase the tempo in the fight against malaria in Africa.

He disclosed this when the Committee on Malaria Eradication submitted its report in his office in Abuja.

He said Nigeria would apply Bio and nuclear technology to eradicate the disease vector mosquito and the parasite responsible for causing malaria.

Onu said in order for Nigeria to be free from malaria, other African nations must be free from the disease.

He said: “Eradication of malaria cannot be successful in Nigeria because of other nations that share border with Nigeria.

 “If we eradicate mosquitoes in Nigeria, they can easily find their way back from the border nations.

“There should be an increase in the percentage of Anti-Malaria drugs produced in Nigeria, to lessen dependence on imported anti-malaria drugs.”

He bemoaned the fact malaria is responsible for many deaths and also reduced the productivity of Nigerians.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Dr. Manasseh Gwaza, said the committee recommended that Nigeria should lead Africa in deploying approved cutting edge technology to eradicate the scourge malaria.

Gwaza said malaria parasite had become resistant to Chloroquine adding that Artemisinin-based combination therapy is now the most effective method in effectively fighting the parasites.

He further stated that the use of bio-technology had been used in developing the active ingredients for anti-malaria drugs from plants.

Leave a Reply