Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) on Tuesday signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with two U.S. government development agencies on how to make Bonny Island malaria-free and achieve HIV epidemic control.
Under the MOU, the United States government through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) would provide technical assistance to the NLNG under the Bonny Island Malaria Elimination Project.
The partnership seeks to bring malaria related deaths to zero on the Island community of 300,000 residents, including the NLNG, which has its operational based on the island located off the Atlantic coast in Rivers State.
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard represented the United States government at a signing ceremony today in Abuja, while NLNG was represented by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tony Attah.
In his remarks, Attah said, “We are ready to put Bonny Island on the map as one of the first malaria-free communities in Nigeria and a reference point in the global eradication of the disease.
“Malaria has negatively impacted health in Nigeria. So, it is time to change the narrative and be free from the economic burden of this scourge so our resources can tackle other issues.
“We hope to set a precedence for the private sector in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which align with our vision of helping build a better Nigeria.”
Administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), PMI works to reduce malaria-related mortality by 50 percent across 24 developing countries through a rapid scale-up of proven and effective malaria prevention and treatment measures. Two PMI activities already operate on Bonny Island.
The MOU also includes a partnership between NLNG and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) regarding support to the HIV/AIDS Surge Project, which focuses on control of HIV on Bonny Island.
This partnership, the NLNG said in a statement on Tuesday, would improve HIV case finding, access to antiretroviral treatment, diagnostic, and preventive services for those affected by HIV on the island. The Surge Project is coordinated by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria in Rivers State.
“Reducing the burden of malaria and HIV/AIDS on Bonny Island are goals now within our reach,” Ambassador Leonard said at the ceremony. “This partnership moves us closer to achieving those goals. I commend the efforts of NLNG to meet its social responsibility in helping the economic climate of Bonny Island by improving the health of its residents.”
NLNG began the Bonny Malaria Elimination Project in 2019 as part of its vision to transform Bonny Island into a tourism and economic hub in the West African region. A malaria-free zone is key to attracting investments to the island, which will positively impact the socio-economic well-being of its residents, Attah said.
