Sen. Ned Nwoko, Chairman of the Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation for Malaria Eradication, has alleged that Western pharmaceutical companies prioritize profit over Nigeria’s malaria eradication efforts.
Speaking at a malaria vaccine workshop in Abuja, Nwoko emphasized the need for a malaria vaccine production plant in Nigeria, stating that Western companies benefit more from selling malaria drugs than eliminating the disease.
Malaria remains a major health crisis, with over 600,000 deaths annually, predominantly in Africa. Nwoko pointed out that if malaria were a Western problem, vaccines would have been developed and funded long ago.
He urged the Nigerian government to invest heavily in local vaccine production instead of relying on foreign pharmaceutical firms.
Nwoko revealed that he has personally invested $20 million in malaria vaccine research and is pushing a bill in the Senate to establish an agency dedicated to malaria research and eradication. This agency would secure funding and collaborate with the presidential team to accelerate vaccine production.
Dr. Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to malaria elimination, emphasizing the role of vaccines in reducing child mortality. Dr. Michael Nwoko, Director of the Malaria Vaccine Project, highlighted the importance of stakeholder collaboration to develop an effective malaria vaccine in Nigeria.
With Nigeria accounting for over 7% of global malaria cases and deaths, there is an urgent need to initiate local vaccine production. The Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation is driving this initiative to ensure sustainable solutions for malaria eradication in Africa.
