Tide Examines Shell’s Efforts To Control Malaria in Nigeria’s Niger Delta

The Tide on Thursday examined efforts by Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria to curb the spread of malaria in the country's Niger Delta region. The company says it has spent $4.5 million to control the disease in 55 communities in the region. Babatunde Fakunle, Shell's corporate community health manager, said the company's malaria control measures have resulted in a significant reduction in malaria cases, as well as a reduced mortality rate of one death per 20,000 patients with malaria in Shell's hospitals over the past 12 years. Fakunle said SPDC's malaria working group has successfully coordinated the company's response to malaria, adding that the company considers combating the disease a priority to prevent illness, death and employee absenteeism (Tide, 6/15).