Dr Dumebi? Owa, President, Medical Women`s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Lagos State branch, on Monday, said malaria killed over 300, 000 people every year in Nigeria.
Owa disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
She said that every area of health should be given equal attention, not fragmented.
Owa said that more attention and funds were being channeled to people living with HIV and AIDS, while others suffering from malaria and hepatitis, said to be dangerous, were neglected.
“Like we found out that they have been concentrating more on certain ailments which are not even as bad as others.
“Let me give you an example, people talk so much about HIV and AIDS, it does not kill as many people as malaria and Nigerians see malaria as common.
“Malaria kills over 300, 000 people a year in this country and most of these people are women and children, pregnant women and children.
“The Hepatitis `B` Virus is hundred high more infectious than the HIV virus, not much is being talked about it.
“So, we have to bring these things to the front burner, these ones are important, there are some other ones that are even more dangerous and they were not talking about them.
“So, let’s give all of them attention. “
She said that the issue of health in Nigeria required collective efforts because it affected all aspects of human life.
She advised well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations and non-governmental organisations to complement the government’s efforts in address the health issues.
“The strong should support the weak, we are all Nigerians; wherever you find yourself that you are more empowered than the other, try and help.
“And companies too, corporate social responsibility, they should help out, especially the communication industry.
“They are getting so much from the people and they should put back something very meaningful into the system.
“Health issues are very serious issues and government alone cannot tackle it that is why individuals, corporate organisations should come in and help.
“You see, abroad, lots of companies, NGOs, they put in so much money into health issues, even, they send their money to Africa, to Nigeria; if such people can do it for us, can’t we do it for ourselves“?