The Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to eliminate malaria in Nigeria by 2030.
The country continues to bear the heaviest malaria burden globally, accounting for 27 per cent of cases and 31 per cent of deaths, according to the 2024 World Malaria Report.
Addressing newsmen at a roundtable discussion held to mark the 2025 World Malaria Day on Friday, April 25, in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, described malaria as a persistent threat to public health and economic stability.
“Malaria is often underestimated, yet it continues to wreak havoc, particularly among children under five and pregnant women.
“Our response must be aggressive, focused, and sustained,” he said.
The event is with theme:”Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reignite, Reimagine”.
Highlighting new interventions, the minister said that the malaria vaccine rollout – initiated in December 2024 in Kebbi and Bayelsa States – will be expanded to 17 more states this year, targeting children aged five to 23 months.
Furthermore, he said insecticide-treated nets would be distributed in 12 states, including Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, and Oyo, while over 30 million children across 21 northern states would benefit from Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC).
He also announced the pilot of Larval Source Management, a vector control strategy in six states, including Lagos, Ekiti, and Borno, in efforts to disrupt mosquito breeding grounds.
He addressed the disruption in malaria intervention services caused by the “Stop Work Order” from the United States Government, which froze USAID/PMI activities.
He said that the Nigerian government made budgetary provisions to bridge funding gaps and ensure uninterrupted delivery of life-saving commodities, such as ACTs, RDT kits, and injectable artesunate.
He said the government plans to conduct both a Rapid Impact Assessment and a Malaria Indicator Survey to better evaluate progress and inform policy decisions.
The minister said that the role of the private sector through partnerships with entities like the Nigeria End Malaria Council, chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, urged businesses to contribute funding and technical support to sustain the fight.
He paid tribute to frontline health workers and media professionals for their crucial roles in awareness and service delivery.
He also expressed gratitude to partners such as the Global Fund, WHO, UNICEF, and Malaria Consortium for their unwavering support.
“This is a national emergency, and our response must reflect that reality.
“Malaria ends with us. Everyone, government, communities, private sector, and individuals, must take ownership,” he said.
He encouraged Nigerians to use treated nets, maintain clean environments, seek early diagnosis and treatment, and remain committed to the collective goal of a malaria-free Nigeria.
Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by parasites of the Plasmodium species. It is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
The disease affects red blood cells and can cause symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. Severe malaria can lead to complications like organ failure, anaemia, and death if not treated promptly.
Malaria is most common in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where it poses a significant public health challenge.
The disease is preventable and treatable, with interventions such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, antimalarial medications, and malaria vaccines being key tools in controlling its spread.
The World Malaria Day 2025, themed “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, serves as a call to action against one of Nigeria’s deadliest diseases.
By Abujah Racheal