By Ogar Monday
Member representing Ikom/Boki at the House of Representative, Hon. Christopher Agibe has urged the Federal Government to rethink its’ malaria eradication program, by shunning the propaganda of the USA on the use of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) to stop malaria.
Hon. Agibe who spoke to journalists in an event organized to commiserate the World Malaria Day in Calabar, added that the use of insecticide treated nets is just a control method as no country in the world has been able to eradicate malaria without the use of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.
The lawmaker further stated that countries like Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, South Africa amongst others have used DDT with positive results questioning why Nigeria which he termed the ‘Malaria headquarters of the world’ would choose not to.
Maintaining that, “The use of mosquito nets as commendable as it is, can in no way eradicate malaria. The answer lies in the spread of the somewhat controversial Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, which has proven to be the sure thing for the complete eradication of the disease.
“The fact is if Nigeria were to start the spraying of DDT, development partners like USAID will withdraw their assistance, as the use of DDT in the fight against malaria is against the US’s law, but it will sure reduce the disease by over 50%.
“If the country is to truly eliminate malaria it should be ready to do it with its own finances. Currently, the country losses 48 Billion naira yearly to malaria and a quarter of that can be used in spraying DDT.”
He ended by disclosing that he has moved a motion on the floor of the House to move the current malaria program from its current control approach to a more aggressive and result oriented eradication approach.
Leave feedback about this