Nigeria contributes 27% to malaria infections and malaria fatalities globally.
This shows a four percent increase in the proportion of deaths attributable to the disease from 23% in 2020.
The significance of this is not lost on the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who told journalists at a ministerial briefing to commemorate the 2022 World Malaria Day (WMD) that disease remains one of the top public health challenges in Nigeria.
At the press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Dr. Ehanire revealed that malaria is the major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among children and pregnant women.
“In the malaria programme information across the country, several program indicators witnessed an upward trend in the utilisation of insecticide-treated nets among five-year-olds, which has increased from 43.4% in 2015 to 52% in 2018 while that among pregnant women increased from 49% to 58% in 2018,” the health minister said.
“The feedback testing among children under five increased from 5% in 2010 to 11% in 2013 and 13% down 20% which is very low and calls for more efforts to address the trend as not everything fever is malaria; therefore people need to be tested to confirm that their illness is malaria-related before they are giving the treatment.”
Dr. Ehanire acknowledged the critical role of important stakeholders including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United State Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), and Breakthrough Action (BAN) in the fight against malaria.
He also emphasized that the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and its partners are working to ensure less than 50% malaria-related deaths per 1,000 live births by 2025.
According to him, the target is already set out in the National Malaria Strategic Plan of 2021 to 2025.
He added that the federal government, the National Education Programme, and other partners have succeeded in sustaining the provision of life-saving malaria interventions.
Also speaking at the ministerial briefing, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, lamented the setbacks the killer disease has caused Nigeria.
“As you all know, malaria is endemic in Nigeria and causes the country huge economic and man-hour losses due to absenteeism from work and school due to repeated episodes of infections, out-of-pocket expenses caring for the sick family member, among others,” he said.
Mr. Mamora restated the effort of the government and its partners in developing and initiating new, innovative strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of malaria to ensure a substantial reduction in the number of malaria cases and deaths recorded each year in the country.
While re-emphasising the theme of the 2022 World Malaria Day, Mr. Mamora urged stakeholders, communities, and Nigerians to join the fight to eradicate malaria as this year's World Malaria Day should encourage all to do more as individuals and collectively, towards making Nigeria malaria-free.
“The theme for this year's malaria day celebration is advancing equity, building resilience, and ending malaria. It is a global call for all endemic countries in particular to build systems that will ensure sustainability in malaria control efforts towards achieving the ultimate goal of elimination and eradication.
“Government continues to drive the global and national efforts and I use this opportunity to thank the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for prioritising Universal Health Care and strengthening of primary health which is helping to address the issues of malaria in Nigeria.”
The WHO spokesperson, Dr. Basady called for an increased supply of the recommended malaria treatment doses and their availability across the country.
“It is important to ensure that the doses that are available are utilized for maximum impact while ensuring continuous availability of further preventive measures, seasonal malaria prevention has been scaled up in 21 states while deploying other approaches for maximum impact to remaining states.
“We must however not lose sight of the potential effect of insecticide resistance as this can reverse the gains recorded so far. The government, communities, and all stakeholders must aim for zero tolerance of malaria.”
World Malaria Day is celebrated on 25 April every year, and the theme for 2022 is "Advance equity, build resilience, end malaria".
