Nigeria and Cuba are partnering on a new malaria control measure that would rid the nation of mosquitoes at the larva stage, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The project is under the auspices of the Cuba-ECOWAS partnership on malaria control.
Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are the pilot nations selected for the project.
The Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hugo Milanes, told NAN in Abuja that biochemical? products that had no effect on humans, water and the environment, were being used to kill mosquitoes at the larva stage before they developed into full insects.
He said the measure, widely successful in Cuba, had rid the Latin American island nation of mosquitoes.
Milanes said the project, which is being implemented in Rivers since 2010, would be extended to other parts of the country, adding that a joint delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health and ECOWAS was currently in Cuba to discuss expanding the partnership.
He said that the partnership would include transfer of technology, capacity training as well as establishment of laboratories for research.
The ambassador said the absence of trade relations between Nigeria and Cuba had strengthened cooperation in other fields such as education and sports.
He said four Cuban boxing coaches were currently engaged in some institutions in Nigeria.
“Also, we have a scholarship programme for medical and sport students in Cuba; more than 165 students have benefited from Cuban sponsored programmes in the last 15 years.’’
Milanes listed agriculture and culture as new areas being explored for cooperation.
Nigeria and Cuba established diplomatic relations in 1974.
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