Health
Youths vital in malaria eradication campaign—Organisers
NAN
The organisers of the Geneith Health Competition have reiterated the crucial role of Nigerian youths in the campaign to eradicate malaria across the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the initiator of the competition, Mr. Cletus Ilobanafor, stressed the importance of student engagement in shaping public health policy and raising awareness on malaria prevention.
“As the nation strives towards a malaria-free future, student leaders play a significant role in shaping public health policy and awareness,” he said.
“Your energy, creativity, and dedication are paramount to making this campaign successful,” Ilobanafor added, describing the competition not just as a programme but a movement aimed at transforming Nigeria’s health narrative.
Also speaking, Mr. Emmanuel Umenwa, Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and sponsor of the competition, commended policymakers, stakeholders, and institutional leaders for recognising the fight against malaria as a collective responsibility.
“Together, we can create a formidable front against this disease. The involvement of students is crucial in this fight, as they represent the vibrant and innovative spirit necessary to enact meaningful change,” he said.
The organisers also praised the enthusiasm of Nigerian students from tertiary institutions who, under various student associations, have embraced the project as a vital vehicle for malaria eradication.
They urged students to act as ambassadors within their institutions, working to ensure malaria’s adverse social and health impacts become a relic of the past.
“We regard your participation in this initiative as a powerful step toward a malaria-free Nigeria. By rallying together, you have the potential to make an indelible impact on public health, raising awareness and inspiring action among your peers and communities,” they said.
Providing further insight into the competition, the statement noted that it is powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, a high-strength antimalarial medication targeting acute and uncomplicated malaria caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite.
The initiative, with a vision to reach every corner of Nigeria, seeks to dismantle barriers to health education and access while promoting effective malaria treatment nationwide.
“In addition to raising awareness, the GHC promises to empower Nigerian youths to become influential leaders of tomorrow, fostering a generation equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for public health advocacy,” the statement added.
The competition includes activities such as workshops, health walks, and community outreach programmes, all designed to help students understand malaria prevention strategies while nurturing leadership qualities for long-term impact.
“The Geneith Health Competition stands as a testament to what can be achieved when young Nigerians unite for a common cause,” the organisers said.
Registration for the competition is currently ongoing, and students from tertiary institutions across the country are encouraged to take part and become champions in the fight against malaria.
Interested participants can register at www.geneithhealthcompetition.com.
Health
Experts call for pharma sector harmonisation
Health sector experts have called for the harmonisation of pharmaceutical activities in Nigeria to eliminate duplication, enhance efficiency, and improve access to quality medicines and health products.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement focused on aligning efforts under the Improving Access to Medicines through Policy and Technical Support (IMPACT) project.
Dr Tayo Hamzat, Supply Chain Management Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the engagement was timely, considering the number of ongoing but uncoordinated interventions in the sector.
“Harmonisation will lead to faster access to health products, lower costs, improved efficiency, and better regulatory oversight.
“It requires collaboration and a focus on strengthening national systems.”
He described Nigeria’s pharmaceutical system as “robust and huge” but hindered by weak coordination and fragmented management structures.
Dr Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West Africa Institute of Public Health, said such collaboration was “common sense” given limited development financing and the need to optimise resources.
“Market shaping is a critical tool.
“Harmonisation can help us identify clear gaps we need to fill, especially in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
Dr Anthony Ayeke, Programme Manager for Health and Nutrition at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting a resilient, locally driven pharmaceutical sector.
“Harmonisation can accelerate local production, reduce import dependency, and improve healthcare system resilience,” he noted.
He also recommended regulatory streamlining, value chain capacity building, innovation, and public-private partnerships.
Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Value Chain Transformation Committee (PVAC), commended ongoing efforts under the IMPACT project.
Represented by Dr Muhammad Balarabe, Technical Associate at PVAC, he emphasised the committee’s focus on catalysing local production and attracting sustainable investment.
“Let’s use this platform to strengthen partnerships and align interventions with the vision of affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Nigerians,” he said.
Dr Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), said fragmented interventions and redundant regulations had long stunted growth in the sector.
Represented by Prof. Philip Builders, Professor of Pharmaceutics at NIPRD he said: “Equitable access to quality medicine is the foundation of universal healthcare.
“The lack of access is not just a health issue; it’s about equity, national security, and economic survival.
“Harmonisation isn’t just about avoiding duplication; it’s about aligning policy, investment, and technical frameworks to achieve measurable results.”
He urged stakeholders to develop practical short, medium, and long-term strategies to make Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector self-reliant, globally competitive, and able to meet national healthcare demands.
The meeting brought together key government agencies, development partners, and private sector actors, each reaffirming a shared commitment to a unified, efficient pharmaceutical ecosystem in Nigeria.
NAN
-
Featured6 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured5 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured6 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured6 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured4 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Sports3 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News9 months agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
-
Featured6 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
