By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Health Reform Initiative Nigeria (He-RIN) has slammed the SNG Health Agreement with the Federal Ministry of Health, calling it “self-serving, deceptive, and a deliberate attempt to cripple local mosquito net manufacturers”.
He-RIN claims the agreement, which involves Vestergaard and Harvestfield forming SNG Health, is a continuation of UNOPS’ activities in the sector, which they say have been questionable.
A joint statement issued on Wednesday by its Executive Director, Sunday Tobi, and Secretary, Abdul Musa accused the Ministry of Health of undermining local manufacturers, saying Nigeria’s malaria burden and failure to reduce malaria-related deaths are due to the ministry’s collusion with UNOPS.
Nigeria has one of the highest malaria burdens globally, accounting for 27% of global cases and 31% of malaria-related deaths. He-RIN says despite substantial public spending, the health sector receives only 4-6% of the annual national budget, far below the 15% Abuja Declaration benchmark.
The organisation alleges that local manufacturers were blocked from accessing a $100 million contract for mosquito net production, which could have created jobs and reduced malaria-related deaths.
They claim the Minister of Health has a conflict of interest, having worked with Vestergaard, and is promoting policies that favour personal interests over Nigerian manufacturers.
He-RIN demands that President Bola Tinubu halt the SNG Health arrangement and investigate the Ministry of Health’s actions.
They want the ministry to account for the $100 million initiative meant for local mosquito net manufacturing and support local manufacturers instead of favouring foreign companies.
