Nigeria accounts for 31 percent of global malaria deaths and 27 percent of total cases worldwide, according to the World Malaria Report 2024.
The country also accounted for nearly 40% of worldwide malaria deaths among children under five.
About 55 million cases of malaria and 90,000 malaria-related deaths occur in the country every year, while the economic burden of the disease in the country was estimated at $1.6b (N687 billion) in 2022 and may increase to about $2.8b (N2 trillion) in 2030.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes
Speaking at the event organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Gates Foundation and other partners to commemorate the World Malaria Day in Abuja, Minister of State for Health, Dr Adekunle Salako, said that Nigeria, malaria had continued to be a major public health issue, with children under five years of age and pregnant women being most at risk.
Salako noted that the disease not only causes suffering and death but also disrupts the economic ecosystem by hindering productivity and increasing healthcare costs.
He said, “I am particularly concerned by the statistics revealed in the World Malaria Report (WMR) 2024 which shows that Nigeria alone is responsible for 27% of the global malaria cases and 31% of the global malaria deaths. This highlights the urgent need for proactive action to prevent and eliminate this deadly disease within our borders.”
Salako observed that the federal Government is to implement Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) in the 21 SMC-eligible states and provide approximately 30 million under-five children with malaria preventive medicines.
He stated that efforts are being made to improve the availability of malaria treatment and diagnostic services in all the states, including those states currently affected by the United States’ “Stop Work Order” by the US Government.
The minister noted that, to ensure last-mile delivery, an integrated supply chain mechanism, coordinated by the National Product Supply Chain Management Programme will be utilised to ensure efficient delivery of these life-saving commodities to where they are most needed.
He observed that the government has made adequate budgetary allocation to fill the funding gap created by the freeze in USAID/PMI malaria elimination activities in Nigeria.
According to the government, urgent malaria commodity needs in USAID/PMI-supported health facilities in the affected states have been identified and will be procured through the Procurement and Supply Chain Management Unit in collaboration with the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC).
Salako said that the commodities to be procured include Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs), Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits, Injectable artesunate for severe malaria, and Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine (SP) combination drugs for pregnant women.
The minister expressed concern over the statistics from the World Malaria Report (WMR) 2024, which shows that Nigeria alone is responsible for 27% of the global malaria cases and 31% of the global malaria deaths, saying that this highlights the urgent need for proactive action to prevent and eliminate this deadly disease.
He stated that the government has initiated the processes to pilot, for the first time, Larval Source Management in six states, which include: Abia, Borno, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, and Rivers States.
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