Monday 27 April 2009

Malaria: W’Bank Gives Additional $300m to Nigeria,What next?


The World Bank has unveiled plans to provide an additional US$300 million in International Development Association (IDA) funding to expand Nigeria's efforts to control malaria.
Combined with Nigeria's initial ‘Malaria Plus’ package of US$180 million (approved in 2006), the bank’s support to Nigeria is expected to approach US$500 million, which would make it the largest single-country malaria control investment in the bank's history.
According to a news release made available to PANA, the global financial group’s Managing Director, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, made the announcement Saturday at the One World against Malaria Summit in Washington DC.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'adu Abubakar; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, capital city, John Onaiyekan; Minister of Health, Babatunde Osotimehin; and National Malaria Control Programme Coordinator, T.O. Sofola, also participated in the launch......


This is a very good development. May be we should start jumping up and shouting alleluia. Not very fast guys wait a minute! I say make you wait jare make I yarn!I wish to applaud the world bank for its initiative and its good natured programme that aims to make live better for the less priviledged. The article said that this $300m will bring up to $500m the amount they have released for this programme in Nigeria.That is quite impressive and commendable. However, it will be interesting to know that it is not only the World bank that have been donating towards the eradication and control of malaria in Nigeria. Companies like AstraZeneca have done their bit in areas of drug donations.Co-artem was donated by them and I think they still do. The chinese government had also in the past donated some drugs like Cotecxin.
Kudos to all of them. I just mentioned these other people to tell my jubilating friends that it is not yet uhuru. More than that has been spent in the past and it does not appear like there is any in road. The burden is still much and many die every minute. The surface is yet be scratched. The reason why we are wearing the expensive clothing and are still naked is that just as the announcement of the donation is made, the thieves in high places have done their mind calculation as to how much they would steal from the whole fund. Which means at the end of the day, the % of the fund that will get to the end users may be less that 20.
Let me give you an insight of what I mean. In a particular hospital, a large quantity of cotecxin was delivered to the hospital for free dispensing. First of all the amount of drugs which was supposed to be delivered was reduced and there was no explanations for that. Then when hospital had dispensed the half of the avalaible drugs, the remaining half disappeared to where they are sold at a price at which the poor people it is meant for cannot afford to buy. The hospital instituted a probe panel which did a nice job but the person indicted was given a slap on the wrist punishment and was let off.
This is exactly the way it happens from top to bottom. Those who are supposed to be the custodian of goodwill have turned to be the harbingers of evil just because of greed and avarice. When will these end? Some of them are hoarded by the men who are supposed to disbute them until they are expired if they are immediately convertible into money. Is this not wickedness?

The problem is that this thieves in high places are mentally poor and no matter how big the account balance is, they are always willing to steal more. There is no mercy in their hearts. People will be dying and their hard hearts will never condemn them. To them money is everything.
Why should we jubilate?

These monies stolen are used to fund campaigns and buy up arms and amunition with which to steal votes and kill those who resist. The issue of ecological fund which found its way from Plateau Sate to OBJ/Atiku campaign fund account easily comes to mind. We only heard about it because the wife refused her husband sex at night.

I am ashamed that a country as rich as Nigeria is still relying on western aid to tackle most of its internal problems and the leaders are not ashamed of that.

I am ashamed that it seems that even the so called intellectuals are caught up in the evil cycle of corruption violance. Does it mean that no one is willing to stand up for the masses? must everybody be selfish?
I am sure that there is not wrong with black race but I am still waiting for the present leaders to prove Lord Lugard wrong.

In 1926 he said of Nigerian or African '....He lacks the power of organisation, and is conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of men or business. He loves the display of power, but fails to realize its responsibility ...'
Even though his views may be seen as supremacist then and now, I am yet to see why what he said is wrong as it applies to Nigeria. He has been proved wrong in Ghana at least in part if not as a whole but not yet in Nigeria.
Successive governmets in Nigeria have failed to organise and manage but they like the exercise power. As a result they can do anything to gain power or remain in power. They can deep their hands into monies meant for the welfare of the less privilegded and will not be ashamed to stand up and say they are fighting malaria. The accumulate the money in other to be worshiped yet they are still men and they grow poorer mentally.

Just look at the recent election in ekiti state. To think that Ekiti has a large number of the most educated people in south west makes one wonder what hope the entity Nigeria holds. A little rerun of election is not possible with up 10 thousand security men as claimed by INEC. Ghana is there conducting free and fair election and allowing opposition to win. In Nigeria, one can only dream of such.

No wonder the Nigerian goverment has refused to condem Mugabe. I feel sick that even the $300m will not cure me. The only thing that could cure me is if justice allowed to walk freely around among this elite thieves, the shameless pen robbers and hypcrites. It is only when justice is punishement is served them the way they deserve that my heart will be at rest. I know you reading could be an instrument. wake up and be counted.
Nigeria will be better if only you say noooooooooo! If only you can ask questions!
The cries of the babies and people who die of preventable sicknesses will never let them including you reading if you are involved enjoy the money meant for their prevention.

Hey! bro do you still wanna jump up? Go ahead and i beat the drum for you.

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