POVERTY and ignorance are seriously militating against malaria and HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa, says Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.A statement by the Ministry on Wednesday, quoted Chukwu as stating this at the third Extraordinary Meeting of the Assembly of ECOWAS Health Ministers in Dakar, Senegal.The minister, who doubles as the Chairman of the Assembly said with determination his team would succeed in the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS if other countries like Cuba could succeed.He said, With a well-coordinated and sustained effort, coupled with the building of active international partnership and sufficient funding, the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS will be achieved in the West Africa sub-region.Poverty and ignorance are the major obstacles in the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS; more sensitisation campaign is necessary and producing the required drugs and making them available to the affected patients would go a long way in eradicating malaria and HIV/AIDS in the sub-region.Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade commended the Assembly for its giant strides in the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS in the sub-region.He said, Your efforts and investments in combating malaria and HIV/AIDS are not in vain as everybody in the region can see the remarkable achievement.Wade, who was represented by his Chief of Staff and Minister of State, urged member countries to sustain the effort and meet their financial obligations to the body.The Director-General of West African Health Organization, Dr. Placido Cardoso, commended the Assembly for the measure it had adopted in the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS, especially in the area of larva control.The Senegalese Minister of Health, Hygiene and Prevention, Mr. Diagne Fada, stated that the government appreciated the effort of the Assembly in the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS.
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