Nigerian Government has advocated for a strong Plan of Action in addressing the challenges of counterfeit drugs in the region.
The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, speaking on behalf of Nigeria at the on-going 66th Session of the WHO Regional Committee Meeting in Addis Ababa noted that malaria is the commonest cause of presentation at health facilities and the major cause of under-five mortality in the country.
Adewole, according to a statement by Mrs. Boade Akinola, Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Health, said Nigeria appreciates the fact that once malaria is eradicated in the country, the disease burden in Africa will drastically reduce.
He however regretted that much as countries in Africa are making efforts, upsurge of counterfeit drugs and poor control mechanism remains a major challenge.
He therefore called for a practical and effective regional arrangement by WHO to assist member States in kicking malaria out of the continent including tight control of counterfeit drugs.
The WHO AFRO has adopted a Framework for implementing the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 thereby putting malaria as one of the WHO priority in the coming years.
