CSOs Urge Govts to Stimulate Community Contributions Toward Funding Malaria Control Efforts
By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has called on governments at all levels to stimulate community contributions in the fight against malaria in Nigeria.
Alhaji Muhammed Danburam, ACOMIN’s Taraba State Chairman, made this call during a media briefing in Jalingo on Monday.
According to Danburam, the growing funding gaps are negatively impacting healthcare facilities’ ability to tackle the disease effectively.
He said that the CSOs’ advocacy emphasizes the need for the promotion of domestic resourcing to effectively control and eventually eliminate malaria by 2030.
He further stated that with donor support declining, the only way to bridge the funding gap is for governments to mobilize and enhance the capacity of community structures to mobilize resources and invest in malaria prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
“Federal, State, and Local Governments should fully incorporate co-funding plans with community contribution and promote Public-Private Partnerships, to strengthen both national and sub-national malaria responses.
“Philanthropists and high-net-worth individuals are encouraged to support high-impact interventions such as environmental treatment and the upgrading of health facilities. Structured investments and donations from non-traditional donors should be inspired to improve healthcare access in vulnerable communities.
“Communities and citizens should revive or strengthen Community Health Structures such as Ward Development Committee (WDCs) to drive household-level malaria prevention through sanitation, early testing, and improved health education.
“The private sector should recognize malaria as a productivity issue and support ITN campaigns, facility upgrades, and health worker training through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). That there is a need to re-establish business coalitions against malaria for greater impact.
“Traditional, religious, and community leaders should mobilize their communities to invest in, actively participate in, and take ownership of malaria interventions within their localities,” he said.
