The Federal Government is to phase out chloroquine use for malaria treatment at the end the year, the health minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, announced in Abuja on Monday.
Mr. Chukwu made the announcement at the launch of the Affordable Medicine Facility for Malaria (AMFM) programme.
“FG had phased out chloroquine since 2004, so there is the need to effect this policy,” the minister said, while he called on Nigerians to stop taking chloroquine, stressing that the ministry was working with NAFDAC to stop its importation.
“The use of chloroquine as treatment against malaria is no longer effective, so Nigerians need to get used to using Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT),” he said.
The Minister stated that ACT was free and available in all government owned hospitals and at primary health centres across the country.
“The Federal government has made the provision of the drugs in government hospitals free. So l want to urge the private hospitals to ensure that the dosage price should not be more than N75,” he said.